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FIA Formula Two Championship (2009–2012)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: Formula Two, FIA Formula 2 Championship, and GP2 Series
FIA Formula Two Championship
CategorySingle seater
RegionEurope
Inaugural season2009
Folded2012
Drivers30
ConstructorsWilliams Grand Prix Engineering,[1]
operated by MotorSport Vision[2][3]
Engine suppliersAudi 1.8-litre 20v Turbo[2][3]
Tyre suppliersYokohama[4]
Last Drivers' championUnited Kingdom Luciano Bacheta
Official websitefiaformula2.com

The FIA Formula Two Championship was a one-make class of auto racing for Formula Two open wheeled single seater racing cars. The championship was contested each year from 2009 to 2012. It was a revival of the former European Formula Two Championship that was previously run from 1967 to 1984. Organised by MotorSport Vision, drivers competed over 16 rounds at eight venues, in identical cars built by Williams Grand Prix Engineering, with 400 bhp engines developed by Mountune Racing and supplied by Audi.

Formula Two was revived due to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's concern that the cost of competing in motor racing at a level to progress directly to Formula One was becoming unreachable for many participants, and the category was re-introduced as a lower-cost alternative for drivers.[2][5][6] The FIA tender to supply and operate the Championship was awarded to the British MotorSportVision Racing company, owned by former Formula One racer Jonathan Palmer.[2][3][7]

Compared to rival series such as GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5, Formula Two cost significantly less per season whilst allowing drivers to prove their skill and develop their racecraft, in identical vehicles designed by a six-man team from Williams Grand Prix Engineering,[2][3] led by Director of Engineering Patrick Head.[8][9] The F2 vehicles were assembled and prepared between races at MotorSport Vision's Bedford Autodrome facility, prior to each championship event.

In December 2012, MotorSport Vision announced that the series would not be run in 2013.[10]

Chassis

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Main article: Williams JPH1

Named after both Jonathan Palmer and Patrick Head, the Williams JPH1[1] chassis and survival cell is of carbon fibre composite monocoque construction. The car was designed to comply with 2005 FIA F1 Safety Regulations. Head protection conforms to the latest 2009 F1 standards. Amongst many other detailed safety features, roadwheel tethers are incorporated.

Race weekend

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For each race meeting there was 90 minutes of free practice, one hour of official qualifying, with the race distance being approximately 175 kilometres (109 mi).[5] This increased to 2 x 40 minute races in 2011.

All drivers had their cars prepared and entered centrally by MSV. Drivers worked with a single mechanic throughout the season, and a rotating group of engineers. This means that a driver's finances had no effect on performance and no one could gain an unfair advantage as every car was operated by the same team.

Scoring system

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For the 2009 season, the scoring system was 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 for the top eight race positions. In 2010, Formula Two adopted the same scoring system change as in Formula One, with points awarded to the top ten finishers.[11] Points were awarded the same for both races in the weekend, as follows:

Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Points 25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1

Champions

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Season Driver Poles Wins FL Podiums Points Clinched Margin Ref
2009 Spain Andy Soucek 2 7 3 11 115 Race 13 of 16 51 [12]
2010 United Kingdom Dean Stoneman 6 6 6 11 284 Race 17 of 18 42 [13]
2011 Italy Mirko Bortolotti 7 7 7 14 298 Race 14 of 16 109 [14]
2012 United Kingdom Luciano Bacheta 3 5 5 10 231.5 Race 16 of 16 21.5 [15]

Television

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The races were broadcast by the sports broadcaster Motors TV. Every race was screened live at fixed times, with several repeat showings.

F2 also had a one-hour highlights program distributed worldwide, and featured prominently in the global Motorsports Mundial program.

Live streaming of the races was available with free access on the official F2 website.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "(F2) Chassis development continues at Williams F1". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2008-12-02. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e "FIA picks Palmer as F2 supplier". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1, Inc. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  3. ^ a b c d "Palmer's MSV wins F2 contract". ITV-F1.com. ITV Sport. 2008-09-15. Archived from the original on 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  4. ^ "F2 chooses Yokohama tyres for new two-seconds-faster car". FIA Formula Two Championship. MotorSport Vision. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ a b "FIA invites tenders for F2". Pitpass.com. Pitpass. 2008-07-13. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  6. ^ "FIA to relaunch F2 in 2009". FIA.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 2008-06-25. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  7. ^ "MSV wins FIA Formula Two Championship Tender". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2008-09-29. Archived from the original on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  8. ^ "Jonathan Palmer unveils Formula Two plans". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2008-10-02. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  9. ^ "Patrick Head relishes the 'engineering challenge' of F2". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. 2009-01-23. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  10. ^ Elizalde, Pablo (6 December 2012). "MotorSport Vision cancels Formula 2 championship". Autosport. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Formula Two adopts new F1 points system (updated)". Flagworld.com. 2010-03-12. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  12. ^ "FIA Formula Two Standings for 2009". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  13. ^ "FIA Formula Two Standings for 2010". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  14. ^ "FIA Formula Two Standings for 2011". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  15. ^ "FIA Formula Two Standings for 2012". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Extended global TV coverage for FIA Formula Two in 2011". FormulaTwo.com. MotorSport Vision. Archived from the original on 2011-12-22. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
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