Paul Rees graduates to Formula Two

Paul Rees

British racer Paul Rees, son of ex-F1 driver Alan Rees, is the latest addition to the FIA Formula Two Championship line-up after his place on the 2010 grid was confirmed today.

Rees joins F2 after taking five podium positions in Formula Palmer Audi last season, which included a hat-trick of rostrums at Brands Hatch in August. 2009 followed a successful maiden campaign in the FPA series where the 23-year-old took pole position on his championship debut and ended the season as the third highest placed rookie. Rees has also raced in both Formula BMW and Formula Renault 2.0 in the UK.

Paul's father Alan finished third in the 1966 Formula 2 Trophées de France, beating Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill along the way. He then went on to finish fifth in the inaugural Formula 2 Europe championship in 1967, and he also competed in Formula One for Brabham.

Paul has already driven the Williams-designed F2 car during winter testing in Portimão, Portugal and the Oxford driver is now hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father by reaching the highest tier in motorsport.

Paul Rees said: “I am thrilled to be racing in Formula Two – this feels like the natural step on the motorsport ladder for me and I am 100% ready for it. I was really impressed with the F2 car during testing – there is a lot of power, good balance and a great gearbox. My father Alan Rees was a very successful Formula Two driver and it’s a good feeling to be the next generation racing under the same name. F2 is likely to be a two year program for me – of course Formula One is my ultimate goal but I am fully focused on succeeding in F2 first. I would like to thank my sponsors who have shown faith in me, Jonathan Palmer and my new management team at Darsena who have made this step possible."

Jonathan Palmer, Formula Two Series Director, said: "I'm delighted Paul is joining F2. He has completed two seasons of FPA, becoming increasingly competitive, and was leading at a final Snetterton race until suffering a slow puncture. Paul is certainly ready to move up now, and F2 will provide the best learning environment as it is the only series in which all drivers can learn from the fastest by seeing not just data but on board video from every session. I have known Paul's father Alan since Arrows made me my first F1 offer for 1982 and it's lovely to have such F1 luminaries as Alan and Debbie Rees as part of the F2 family."