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A host of new drivers joined familiar Formula Master faces for day one of an official two-day test in Valencia, Spain today with Luca Persiani driving for Scuderia Famà toping the timesheets.

The Series’ international pedigree was demonstrated with drivers from ten countries including Formula Master’s first American racer, Troy Castaneda testing for Alan Racing and the Series’ second-ever female driver Gwendolyn Hertzberger joining Luca Persiani at Scuderia Famà.

Drivers completed an average of 66 laps with teams focusing on driver evaluation ahead of the 2008 season. Standards were high with the top 11 drivers setting fastest laps within one second of each other and new drivers such as 2007 British Formula 3 National Class winner Sergio Perez testing for Alan Racing and Dean Smith (2005 British Formula BMW) driving with Euronova Racing, posting competitive lap times.

Daniel Mancinelli claimed best rookie of the day with second fastest whilst 2007 Formula 3 Euroseries driver Sergey Afanasiev also impressed, having set the fourth fastest time.

British driver Michael Meadows returned to the Series, testing for Euronova Racing, following a race-weekend appearance with the team at Brands Hatch earlier this year. A number of teams took the opportunity to test former rivals such as Pablo Sanchez Lopez who drove the car of Series Champion Jérôme D’Ambrosio at Cram Competition.

Formula Master – Valencia winter testing
Day One

1. Luca Persiani (ITA), Scuderia Famà, 1:28.819

2. Daniel Mancinelli (ITA), Euronova Racing, 1:29.153

3. Sergio Perez (MEX), Alan Racing, 1:29.182

4. Sergey Afanasiev (RUS), J.D. Motorsport, 1:29.234

5. Salvatore Gatto (ITA), Promotorsport, 1:29.255

6. Guiseppe Terranova (ITA), Promotorsport, 1:29.448

7. Claudio Cantelli Jr (BRA), J.D. Motorsport, 1:29.455

8. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX), Cram Competition, 1:29.508

9. Fabio Leimer (SUI), Jenzer Motorsport, 1:29.510

10. Pierre Ragues (FRA), Euronova Racing, 1:29.550

11. Nick de Bruijn (NED), J.D. Motorsport, 1:29.809

12. Aleix Alcaraz (ESP), Cram Competition, 1:29.910

13. Ronnee Theiler (SUI), Jenzer Motorsport, 1:29.928

14. Oliver Campos Hull (ESP), Iris Project, 1:29.970

15. Federico Rossi (ITA), Euronova Racing, 1:29.980

16. Dean Smith (GBR), Euronova Racing, 1:30.040

17. Michele Caliendo (ITA), ADM Motorsport, 1:30.085

18. Michael Meadows, (GBR), Euronova Racing, 1:30.162

19. Dominik Schraml (GER), Alan Racing, 1:30.565

20. Frankie Provenzano (ITA), ADM Motorsport, 1:30.915

21. Gwendolyn Hertzberger (NED), Scuderia Famà, 1:31.862

22. Troy Castaneda (USA), Alan Racing, 1:32.456