The 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship
The successful maiden season of the FIA Formula Two Championship
saw Andy Soucek crowned the first F2 champion for 25 years with a
dominant performance that his rivals recognised was well
deserved.
To build on that success, series organiser MotorSport Vision is
working closely with the FIA and Williams F1 on a number of
significant advances for the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship, to
ensure it continues to provide a revolutionary combination of
optimum performance, professionalism and equality at an
exceptionally low cost.
The Williams JPH1 F2 car, which has proved excellent from the
outset, will benefit from significant upgrades and be designated
the JPH1B in order to enhance performance, reliability and
overtaking. The 2010 aerodynamic package will provide F2 drivers
and engineers with a broader range of downforce levels to work
with, facilitating greater set up optimisation across the nine
circuits F2 will visit. Engine power will be increased from 400bhp
to 425bhp, with a greater gain on overboost, from 450bhp to
480bhp.
As in 2009, the eventual champion will again receive a full test
with the Williams F1 team at the end of the season and the top
three will be eligible for an FIA Superlicence, required to compete
in Grand Prix racing.
The 2010 F2 calendar has been expanded from eight to nine events,
with two races to be held at each event to give a total of 18 races
for the championship. Eight rounds will accompany the FIA
World Touring Car Championship's European events, together with the
Moroccan round at Marrakech. F2's season will open with a major
Formula Two headlining event at the Silverstone Grand Prix
circuit.
All races will be televised live by Eurosport, the world's foremost
sports broadcaster, whose network reaches 69 countries across
Europe and Asia. In 2009 more than three million people on average
watched live coverage of F2 events and this will increase in
2010.
MSV has been eager to ensure the price of F2 remains uniquely
inexpensive, representing extraordinary value despite car
specification upgrades and the addition of a further race weekend.
The 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship season will therefore cost
£275,000 (€300,000*) + VAT. Entries are now open for the
grid of 25 cars which is expected to be rapidly filled.
* Based on an exchange rate of 1.09 Euros to the Pound.
2010 FIA Formula Two Championship Calendar
| 16/17/18 April |
Silverstone, United Kingdom |
| 30 April/ 1/2 May |
Marrakech, Morocco* |
| 21/22/23 May |
Monza, Italy |
| 18/19/20 June |
Zolder, Belgium |
| 2/3/4
July |
Algarve, Portugal |
| 16/17/18 July |
Brands Hatch, United Kindgom |
| 30/31 July/ 1 August |
Brno, Czech Republic |
| 3/4/5 September |
Oschersleben, Germany |
| 17/18/19 September |
Valencia, Spain |
* Subject to ASN approval
Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive, MotorSport Vision
commented:
"When the FIA announced in September 2008 that MSV had won the
tender to design and build a fleet of new Formula Two cars and
operate the championship we knew we faced an enormous challenge to
get 24 cars on the grid for the first race at Valencia.
"Williams F1 did an outstanding job designing our new JPH1 F2 car
under the direction of Patrick Head. Our MSV F2 team headed by
Giles Butterfield has worked phenomenally hard to both build the
cars and run them so professionally in F2's first year.
"There is no question F2 has been a great success already. We have
had a full grid from the start to the end of the season. The
unprecedented affordability of F2 has meant we have had drivers
from 15 different nationalities competing. F2 has been fiercely
competitive with eight different drivers winning races. Most
importantly F2 has enabled the outstanding talent of Andy Soucek to
prove his ability by winning the championship and underline his
claim to an F1 drive.
"However 2009 has just provided us with a solid base from which to
aggressively enhance F2. Key areas that will be addressed for 2010
include a target of achieving 100% car reliability, greater car
performance and team operational efficiency. Our championship will
expand to 18 races and yet the cost will still be kept at an
extraordinarily low £275,000.
"Early indications are that the 2010 grid will fill quickly with a
high quality field of drivers and that our champion next year will
be another talent destined for F1."
Patrick Head, Director of Engineering, Williams F1
said:
"I am pleased to see that the F2 championship in 2009 has
been successful and has been won by the driver who not only had the
best speed over the season, but who also was tactically ahead of
his competition.
"Jonathan Palmer is never one to stand still, and amongst many
other improvements wishes to raise the performance of the car by
working on all the major performance controlling parameters;
weight, power, tyre grip, downforce and
drag.
"2009 champion Andy Soucek will be driving for a full day of our
permitted three days testing allowance for young drivers in
December, and I am sure he will perform well. Formula Two has
made a mark in 2009 as a competitive championship, professionally
run with equal cars, but everything can be improved and we intend
that this shall be the case for F2 in 2010."
Formula Two Testing Information
Drivers competing in the 2010 F2 championship will participate
in five official group test days (3 pre-season and 2
mid-season).
Drives are now available for the 2010 FIA
Formula Two Championship. Interested parties should
contact the Championship Co-ordinator, James
Gornall.
James Gornall is based at Bedford Autodrome in the UK and can be
contacted at james.gornall@formulatwo.com
or on 0044 1234 332439 (ext 239).
2010 F2 Technical Regulations - published
15.12.2009
2010 F2 Sporting Regulations - published on:
15.12.2009