Benjamin Lariche secures place on F2 grid
Drivers from seven countries and three continents confirmed so far
The 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship grid continues to take
shape with Frenchman Benjamin Lariche today (3/3) confirmed as the
latest driver to have secured his place in the line-up - joining a
list of drivers from seven countries and three continents to have
signed up so far.
Lariche's single seater career dates
back to 2006 when he contested the Formula Renault Campus
France series, scoring podiums in his maiden season. The
22-year-old then stepped up to French Formula Renault in 2007. The
following season Lariche moved into Formula Renault 2.0 WEC, where
he scored his first single seater victory with a win at Valencia -
beating a host of talented rivals including Red Bull's F1 reserve
driver Daniel Ricciardo. The same year Lariche also contested one
race in the Formula Junior FR 2.0 Portugal series, which he also
won. Lariche remained in the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC series for
2009 and also contested six races in Formula Renault 2.0
Eurocup.
Lariche joined all four days of F2 winter testing at the end of
2009. He ran well throughout, posting the fifth fastest time on the
opening day in Valencia.
Benjamin Lariche said: "I am very excited and impatient to begin
a new season in Formula Two - I haven't raced since December and it
has been too long! Last year in Formula Renault 2.0 I was the only
driver in my team, so I didn't have any data to compare with. This
year in Formula Two it will be good to have the data and videos of
the fastest driver and I hope to improve my driving with these
interesting tools. It is also going to be really exciting driving
this powerful and competitive car, particularly with the new
upgrades. I feel confident after the F2 winter tests - my main
target is to just keep improving as a driver and I hope to finish
in the points as often as possible, and why not score some
podiums!"
Jonathan Palmer, Formula Two Series Director, said: "France has
a history of producing great drivers, and last year we had
race-winner Julien Jousse in Formula Two. Benjamin has already
competed against another talented Frenchman, Ferrari's Jules
Bianchi, in 2007 and I have no doubt he will be eager to emulate
Jousse's performances from last year and be the leading French F2
driver in 2010. He had a great approach and got on well with
everyone in the team during the winter F2 tests, and I look forward
to seeing him build upon on that testing experience to become a
frontrunner in the 2010 Formula Two season."
To read more about Benjamin Lariche, visit his 2010
driver's page here.
Interested drivers should contact the Championship
Co-ordinator, James Gornall, at james.gornall@formulatwo.com or on
0044 1234 332439.