2010 Formula Two Championship Announced

18/11/2009 - 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 pleased to announce that it is working closely with the FIA and Williams F1 in proposing a number of significant advances for the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship, to ensure that the championship continues to provide the revolutionary combination of optimum performance, professionalism and equality at an exceptionally low cost.

As in 2009, the eventual champion will again receive a full test with the Williams F1 team at the end of the season.

The 2010 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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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
Formula Two is running a winter testing programme in Spain and Portugal in December. The tests are open to any driver, subject to F2 approval:

Valencia, Spain 3/4 December 2009
Portimao, Portugal 11/12 December 2009

1 day: €9,500 + VAT
2 days: €17,500 + VAT
4 days: €30,000 + VAT

Drivers competing in the 2010 F2 championship will participate in five official group test days (3 pre-season and 2 mid-season).

Driver enquiries for the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship should be made to Chris Dredge. He can be contacted by phone on +44 (0)1234 332439 or by email on chris.dredge@formulatwo.com. For more information about the FIA Formula Two Championship, click on the link below.