Jack Clarke: “I am 100% focussed on being in F2 this season”
21-year-old aims to reap the benefit of 2009 experience
British driver Jack Clarke intends to remain in Formula Two for
2010 after making steady progress in his maiden international
campaign last season.
"I have no desire to race anywhere else this year," said Clarke.
"F2 is the only championship that will provide me with the level
playing field that I need to display my talent. I would certainly
be targeting the championship and we will see what happens."
Clarke was one of four Britons who graduated to F2 from the
Formula Palmer Audi Championship in 2009, and the 21-year-old was
encouraged to have finished the season ahead of his rivals.
"It was a pretty good season for me," he said. "It could have
been better at certain events but it was always going to be a
learning year. I had a great fifth place at Spa-Francorchamps and I
really enjoyed storming through the field at Oschersleben to score
some points.
"There were some real highlights but I know that I need to
improve during qualifying and be more consistent in the races. We
were up against some very experienced opposition last year but I
made good progress during the season, which hopefully sets me up
nicely for 2010."
Clarke contested both F2 winter tests in Spain and Portugal
prior to Christmas, making good use of the significant time
available behind the wheel: "I was pretty quick for most of the
winter testing and things certainly felt different having had a
year of experience under my belt," notes Clarke. "It can be quite
intense when testing during the season so it was really nice to
have lots of track time without being in such a pressurised
environment. I am always learning and I certainly feel as if I took
another step forward during the tests."
The F2 car is undergoing significant upgrades for the 2010
season and Clarke is excited by the prospect of competing in an
even faster car this season. He said: "Judging by the success of
the first season, I am absolutely convinced that Williams and the
organisers of F2 will provide a fantastic car this year. The
upgrades sound exciting and the car is going to be quicker and
better all round. It is fantastic that F2 will move closer to the
likes of GP2 in terms of speed - I certainly want to be driving the
fastest car possible against some of the best young drivers in the
world, as it is the best way for people from the outside to judge
your performance."
"Of course it is a case of securing the full budget but I am
100% focussed on being in F2 again this season," concluded Jack. "I
will be in the same position as several others in terms of being in
F2 for a second season and having learnt so much in 2009, I really
feel that I would have a good chance.