Championship Prize
As in 2009, Dean Stoneman's 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship
triumph will see him receive a full test with the Williams F1 team
at the end of the season at the Yas Marina Grand Prix circuit in
Abu Dhabi.
As a reward for finishing in the championship top three, Dean
Stoneman, Jolyon Palmer and Sergey Afanasiev all become eligible
for an FIA Superlicence, required to compete in Grand Prix
racing.
"My test with
Williams was a dream day. This is all down to winning F2, so I have
to thank Jonathan Palmer and everyone else there who has put me in
this position."
Andy Soucek - 2009 FIA Formula Two Champion
Andy Soucek completed 87 laps and set the fastest overall lap time
during his test day with Williams in Jerez, Spain on 1
December, ending the day more than two tenths clear of his nearest
rival.
Soucek, who received the test as part of his prize for winning the
2009 FIA Formula Two Championship, beat an exceptional field of
young drivers which included British F3 Champion Daniel Ricciardo,
Euro F3 Champion Jules Bianchi (Ferrari) and Formula Renault 3.5
Champion Bertrand Baguette (Renault).
The 24-year-old impressed key personnel at the Williams F1 team
with both his skills behind the wheel and his professional
attitude: "We were happy with how the day went and Andy did a good
job," said Williams' Director of Engineering Patrick Head. "I
definitely think Andy has a future in F1 and I hope he gets the
opportunity. He has all the right attributes for Formula One and
his intelligence and driving skill will serve him well."
Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision, which runs
the FIA Formula Two Championship, hailed both Soucek and the
importance of the ongoing F1 test prize in 2010: "Andy proved he
can be competitive in F1 and that is a great endorsement to the
competitiveness of F2 and the equality of the F2 cars.
"I am particularly appreciative of the great opportunity Williams
has given both Andy Soucek and F2. Everyone can now see that the
championship prize of a Williams F1 test drive is of enormous
value."