The drawing press (10) according to the invention has for driving its ram (15) a directionally reversing gear mechanism (22, 54), for example a coupling gear mechanism, and at least one servomotor (23). The servomotor (23) passes through the reversal point (Ut) of the ram movement, which is predetermined by the kinematics of the coupling gear mechanism, for example the extended position of an eccentric drive. During the closing of the die (18), that is to say during a press stroke, the servomotor (23) is activated in such a way that it first passes through this reversal point (Ut), then stops, reverses and then passes through it once again, in order to open the die (18) again. Consequently, the braking to a standstill and re-acceleration of the servomotor for the upper ram (15) takes place while the actual drawing operation is still or already being performed, i.e. during the forming of the metal blank, which significantly reduces the cycle time.