F1 and GP2 test prizes for Formula Two in 2011
The competitiveness of the Formula Two Championship and the equality of the cars have been proven by F2 title winners Andy Soucek and Dean Stoneman, who both excelled in their F1 tests for Williams. Jolyon Palmer, 2010 F2 championship runner up, also impressed in the recent GP2 tests at Abu Dhabi.
Williams F1, which has amassed 16 FIA Formula One World Championships in total and designed the JPH1B Formula Two cars for series operators MSV, has confirmed that its successful relationship with F2 will continue in 2011.
Williams F1 Chairman Adam Parr explained: “Williams F1 is proud of its continued association with the increasingly successful FIA Formula Two Championship. When we embarked on the project with MotorSport Vision in 2008, our objective was to provide aspiring young racing drivers with a proving ground in which to develop their talents at a reasonable cost.
“The championship is clearly achieving those objectives and producing some of the sport’s future stars. We are therefore delighted to maintain our support for a third year by rewarding the 2011 series champion with the opportunity of a Formula One test session with the AT&T Williams team."
Alongside the Williams prize test for the champion, the 2011 FIA Formula Two Championship will reward its second and third place finishers with GP2 tests – establishing a clear and comprehensive route for the world’s best young talents to progress into the highest tiers of motor racing. The top three will also become eligible for an FIA Super License, required to compete in Formula One Grands Prix.
F2 Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer said: “The continuation of the Williams F1 test for the 2011 Formula Two Champion is a huge benefit, particularly as it takes place over a full day during the coveted F1 Rookie tests. Williams are the perfect partner for F2 and they really provide the best opportunity possible for our championship winner. With GP2 being a well proven route to F1 we believe it’s important to award GP2 tests for second and third placed drivers to reinforce our seriousness about F2 providing the most cost effective path towards F1."
Drivers interested in competing in the 2011 FIA Formula Two Championship should contact the Championship Coordinator, James Gornall. He is based at Bedford Autodrome in the UK and can be contacted at james.gornall@formulatwo.com or on 0044 1234 332439.