19-year-old Briton aiming for maiden F2 victory in 2010
Jolyon Palmer has today (10/03) confirmed that he will return to the Formula Two line-up in 2010 for his second year in the F1 feeder series.
Jolyon, son of 1983 F2 champion and ex-F1 driver Jonathan Palmer, graduated to Formula Two last season after finishing third in the 2008 Formula Palmer Audi Championship. One of the youngest competitors in the 2009 F2 field, he made a promising start to the season when he recorded his first top ten finish in the second round at Brno in the Czech Republic.
Palmer, 19, went on to perform well at both Spa-Francorchamps and Brands Hatch, before scoring his first points of the season with a sixth place finish in the second race at Imola in September.
The Comma-backed Briton also joined F2 for all four days of winter testing, beating an exceptional field to set the fastest time of day two at Portimão, Portugal. After gaining valuable experience in his first year of international single seater racing, Palmer admits he will be looking to launch himself towards the front of the field in the forthcoming campaign.
Jolyon Palmer said: Last season was a little disappointing for me until towards the end of the year when I scored my first points. I was also quick during winter testing and hopefully I can carry this momentum into my second F2 campaign. The testing in Portimão in December was particularly competitive and I went really well there, so this is hopefully a good sign that I can run at the front and get my first win in F2 this season. I am used to the one team environment having been in FPA previously and then in F2, and I really feel I can get the best out of it. I will start the season on a race by race basis to see where I stand compared to the other drivers, but I really feel that I have the potential to be a contender and if things go my way, maybe even win the title.
Jonathan Palmer, Formula Two Series Director, said: "As with a number of young drivers, F2 was always going to be a multi year programme for Jolyon. Last year was very challenging – I think many people underestimated just how tough the competition was – but Jo improved encouragingly over the final couple of events. He was right on the pace in winter testing and should be a regular points scorer in 2010 when he will be hoping to match the pace of the current field, plus some well respected, quick drivers who are about to finalise their F2 budgets and be announced next week.
Drivers interested in competing in the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship should contact the Championship Co-ordinator, James Gornall, at james.gornall@formulatwo.com or on 0044 1234 332439.