The return of Formula Two after 25 years is an enormously significant time in the history of motorsport and all of us at MotorSport Vision are extremely proud to have won the FIA tender to supply the cars and operate the championship.
There is no doubt the FIA’s eagerness to create a prestigious high performance new championship at a sensationally low cost is perfectly timed. With the daily news of a very difficult and worsening economic climate that is affecting the whole world, it is absolutely clear the ability of drivers to generate high levels of sponsorship and funding is going to be significantly reduced in 2009 and 2010. Without Formula Two the number of drivers who would have the opportunity to try and prove their claim to a Formula One drive would be much lower.
We are thrilled and very privileged to have Williams F1 as our partner in this project, as a six man design team lead by Patrick Head is responsible for the design of our new Formula Two car. With the whole objective of Formula Two being to provide an affordable step to Formula One, we really wanted a close alliance with a Formula One team for the project, to benefit from not just their technology and design expertise, but also to understand exactly what Formula Two needs to deliver to help F1 teams identify the best young driver talent and want them in their F1 cars.
I am absolutely determined that F2 will attract the greatest depth of talent by virtue of its extraordinary cost effectiveness, and through its carefully considered format and equality of opportunity produce most of the best future F1 star talent in the coming years.
Jonathan Palmer
Chief Executive, MotorSport Vision
Jacky Ickx
'Monsieur Le Mans'
In 1967 the FIA introduced a European F2 championship, which was won by Jacky Ickx in its inaugural season. Ickx entered his first Formula One race in the same year, actually driving an F2 car at the Nürburgring.
Ickx made his official F1 debut in a Cooper-Maserati at Monza and the Belgian went on to win eight Grand Prix’ - most notably for Brabham and Ferrari - in an F1 career spanning over 13 years.
Ickx is arguably more famous for his sportscar racing career, having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans on six occasions. Victory on his Le Mans debut in the famous Gulf liveried Ford GT40 in 1969 was followed by wins in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 and 1982.
Known as ‘Monsieur Le Mans’, Ickx’ record of six Le Mans victories stood until 2007, when he was surpassed by Tom Kristensen.
Click here for more information of the history of Formula Two.