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.
Lariches 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 Bulls 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 havent 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, Ferraris Jules Bianchi, in 2007 and I have no doubt he will be eager to emulate Jousses 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.
Interested drivers should contact the Championship Co-ordinator, James Gornall, at james.gornall@formulatwo.com or on 0044 1234 332439.