Brundle sets the pace in pre-season Silverstone F2 test

The FIA Formula Two Championship came to Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, for its first pre-season test today (22 March), and 22 drivers were present to take part. 20-year-old Briton Alex Brundle recorded the fastest time of the day in the afternoon's overboost-enabled session, finishing three tenths of a second clear of the field. Brundle was also impressive in the morning, finishing second behind countryman Jack Clarke.

"It's always nice to be on top and now we've just got to stay there," said Brundle. "I'm not getting complacent by any means and I've got to keep pushing at the Snetterton test (next Wednesday). We had a decent race car at the end there today and I pulled it out the bag a bit on the lap but I still need to build more consistency. It's a great car to drive on new tires and I really enjoyed the session."

In addition to the drivers already announced for the 2011 championship, a number that have previously raced in F2 also took part, including regular 2010 points scorer Mihai Marinescu and female racer Natalia Kowalska. Marinescu's pace was particularly strong, the Romanian finishing top in the afternoon's penultimate session and third fastest overall – just behind Spaniard Miki Monras. Julian Theobald, Johannes Theobald and Ramon Pineiro, who each contested part-seasons in 2010, also tested today along with F2 newcomers James Cole, Jose Luis Abadin and Sunghak Mun. Spain's Ramon Pineiro caught the eye by finishing inside the top 5 in every session.

Mikkel Mac and Jukka Honkavuori, who took part in F2 winter testing at the end of last year, were also at Silverstone.

Tom Gladdis was forced to skip the test as he continues to recover from a serious foot injury, though he hopes to be fit in time for Snetterton, the final pre-season test, next Wednesday. Russia's Alexey Karachev was also due to attend but had to withdraw following a delay in his visa application.

Combined times – afternoon sessions (overboost enabled for final 45 minutes):

Pos

Driver Time Gap
1. Alex Brundle 1:50.221 + 0.000s
2. Miki Monras 1:50.514 + 0.293s
3. Mihai Marinescu 1:50.515 + 0.294s
4. Ramon Pineiro 1:50.530 + 0.309s
5. Mirko Bortolotti 1:50.663 + 0.442s
6. Armaan Ebrahim 1:50.747 + 0.526s
7. Maxim Snegirev 1:51.051 + 0.830s
8. Jack Clarke 1:51.348 + 1.127s
9. Kelvin Snoeks 1:51.462 + 1.241s
10. James Cole 1:51.601 + 1.380s
11. Tobias Hegewald 1:51.725 + 1.504s
12. Benjamin Lariche 1:51.978 + 1.757s
13. Mikkel Mac 1:51.980 + 1.759s
14. Thiemo Storz 1:52.484 + 2.263s
15. Johannes Theobald 1:52.559 + 2.338s
16. Sunghak Mun 1:52.683 + 2.462s
17. Jukka Honkavuori 1:52.684 + 2.463s
18. Natalia Kowalska 1:52.848 + 2.627s
19. Julian Theobald 1:53.278 + 3.057s
20. Plamen Kralev 1:53.456 + 3.235s
21. Jose Luis Abadin 1:53.682 + 3.461s
22. Parthiva Sureshwaren 1:54.455 + 4.234s

Combined times – morning sessions:

Pos Driver Time Gap
1. Jack Clarke 1:51.537 + 0.000s
2. Alex Brundle 1:51.843 + 0.306s
3. Ramon Pineiro 1:51.850 + 0.313s
4. Mihai Marinescu 1:51.984 + 0.447s
5. Miki Monras 1:52.194 + 0.657s
6. Maxim Snegirev 1:52.211 + 0.674s
7. James Cole 1:52.675 + 1.138s
8. Thiemo Storz 1:52.729 + 1.192s
9. Mirko Bortolotti 1:52.762 + 1.225s
10. Armaan Ebrahim 1:53.012 + 1.475s
11. Benjamin Lariche 1:53.061 + 1.524s
12. Jukka Honkavuori 1:53.112 + 1.575s
13. Tobias Hegewald 1:53.225 + 1.688s
14. Kelvin Snoeks 1:53.494 + 1.957s
15. Natalia Kowalska 1:53.504 + 1.967s
16. Mikkel Mac 1:53.612 + 2.075s
17. Julian Theobald 1:53.655 + 2.118s
18. Johannes Theobald 1:53.691 + 2.154s
19. Plamen Kralev 1:54.288 + 2.751s
20. Jose Luis Abadin 1:54.560 + 3.023s
21. Parthiva Sureshwaren 1:54.762 + 3.225s
22. Sunghak Mun 1:55.851 + 4.314s

The next pre-season F2 test will take place on the new Snetterton 300 circuit on Wednesday 30 March.