Eng edges out Palmer in race two
Austrian holds off late charge to take first win of 2010

Philipp Eng resisted a spirited challenge by Jolyon Palmer to clinch his first victory of 2010, the Austrian taking the chequered flag by just 0.8 seconds.

Eng, who started from pole, enjoyed a solid start to carry his lead into the first corner and build a gap on the opening lap. He was soon pegged back, first by Dean Stoneman and later by Palmer, but he remained calm to seal victory.

It was almost a perfect weekend for Palmer, who instead had to settle for victory in the opening race and second in race two. The 19-year-old attacked Eng as they ran down to Copse for the first time, but the Austrian blocked his move and Dean Stoneman seized the opportunity to drive around the outside of his compatriot into second.

There was more action behind when Sergey Afanasiev dented his chances of replicating his podium form in race one, as the Russian ran wide at Copse and dropped back to eighth. His fellow countryman Ivan Samarin had a wild spin at Becketts and returned to the track at the back of the pack as the frenetic opening lap continued.

Things began to settle in the order after two laps although Stoneman set about closing Eng down. After eight laps the Englishman had reduced the gap to less than half a second, but he slowed on the Hangar Straight shortly after. He eventually retired in the pits with mechanical problems, which allowed Palmer back into second.

Palmer slowly chipped away at the gap ahead and he was just over 0.4s behind as the lead duo began their penultimate lap, some 15 seconds ahead of the fight for third. Comma-backed Palmer had a slight slide coming through the complex however, and he seemingly settled for second on the final lap.

"It was a very tough race," said Eng. "Jolyon was pushing very hard and for me it was like qualifying every single lap, because I was always trying to get the maximum out of the car. I would have liked to get a podium in the first race – anyway I won this race and fourth in the first race is a good effort."

Third place was equally tense when positions changed late on after Johan Jokinen charged down Jack Clarke. The Danish driver got a good run down the Hangar Straight in the latter stages, and he slid calmly down the inside of Clarke when his rival ran wide at Stowe. Although Clarke will have been slightly frustrated to have lost out on a maiden podium, he can be pleased with his best performance and result of his Formula Two career so far.

Will Bratt admitted he is still learning how to get the best out of the Williams JPH1B, but the Oxford-based racer drove another consistent race to take his second top six finish of the day. He took fifth ahead of Afanasiev and Kazim Vasiliauskas. Mihai Marinescu and Armaan Ebrahim were eighth and ninth respectively, whilst Nicola De Marco took the final point after eventually getting the better of Frenchman Benjamin Lariche.

With the championship next visiting Marrakech, Morocco, for its first ever street race and maiden event outside of Europe in two weeks time, Jolyon Palmer currently heads the standings ahead of Philipp Eng and Sergey Afanasiev.

"As soon as Dean had his problem I just went all out to attack Philipp, I caught him up quite quickly initially but I think he probably responded. We were both setting good times at the end of the race which made it quite hard for me to make inroads. I am still pleased with second and it’s been a good weekend.

"Pre-season testing was really positive, I’ve been at the sharp end the whole time and it’s reflected in this weekend. I am really happy with the weekend and it’s above all my expectations."

FIA Formula Two Championship – Rounds 1 & 2 – Silverstone, UK – Race 2 Classification:

1. Philipp Eng, 23 laps
2. Jolyon Palmer, +0.807s
3. Johan Jokinen, +16.230s
4. Jack Clarke, +20.571s
5. Will Bratt, +21.418s
6. Sergey Afanasiev, +28.067s
7. Kazim Vasiliauskas, +33.443s
8. Mihai Marinescu, +35.331s
9. Armaan Ebrahim, +45.026s
10. Nicola De Marco, +46.849s

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Jolyon Palmer takes historic maiden victory
Briton follows father as Formula Two race winner

Jolyon Palmer took a historic maiden win in Formula Two in the opening race of the season at Silverstone today, the Briton keeping a cool head to control the race from lights-to-flag.

Dean Stoneman was able to exert steady pressure on Palmer during the opening series of laps, but lost ground after a spin at Becketts in the mid stages. Such was the dominance of the top two however, that Stoneman was able to return to the track and maintain second position, eventually finishing the race little over three seconds behind Palmer.

Palmer’s victory is the first for a British driver in the new era of Formula Two and he becomes the first Brit to take a win since his father Jonathan won in Mugello, Italy, in 1983. The former F2 champion and Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision was at Silverstone today to witness his son’s success and hand an ecstatic Jolyon his trophy at the end of the race.

"It’s fantastic, all I could have hoped for really," said Jolyon. "I was under pressure at the start but managed to hold it off and get a small gap. Then I was just concentrating on saving my tyres for the last laps, not making any mistakes and trying to keep focused. I am really delighted with my first F2 win."

The race played into Palmer’s hands from the start, with the 19-year-old enjoying a fantastic getaway off the line whilst his fellow front row racer Johan Jokinen bogged down. Stoneman nipped into second as Jokinen, Afanasiev and Philipp Eng went three wide down to turn one. Afanasiev won the battle into Copse and Jokinen then endured a trip across the grass at Becketts – dropping to 13th place in the process.

Afanasiev and Eng were joined by Kazim Vasiliauskas after the Lithuanian got by Will Bratt, and the trio fought for position in the early stages, allowing Palmer and Stoneman to pull out a gap. Eng and Vasiliauskas could not match Afanasiev’s pace as the race wore on however, and all three drivers maintained position until the finish, which gave Russian driver Afanasiev a podium on his F2 debut.

Will Bratt experienced a lonely sixth place, more than 11 seconds ahead of Mihai Marinescu and Armaan Ebrahim. With Formula Two following the new F1 points system for 2010 it means that points are awarded to the top ten drivers in each race, which will be some consolation for series returnee Nicola De Marco who took ninth ahead of debutant Benjamin Lariche.

FIA Formula Two Championship – Rounds 1 & 2 – Silverstone, UK – Race 1 Classification:
1. Jolyon Palmer, 23 laps
2. Dean Stoneman, +3.011s
3. Sergey Afanasiev, +7.084s
4. Philipp Eng, +9.932s
5. Kazim Vasiliauskas, +11.581s
6. Will Bratt, +12.383s
7. Mihai Marinescu, +23.825s
8. Armaan Ebrahim, +26.881s
9. Nicola De Marco, +31.843s
10. Benjamin Lariche, +34.242s

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Philipp Eng secures Silverstone pole
Austrian racer leads Jolyon Palmer and Dean Stoneman

Philipp Eng set the quickest time in qualifying two at Silverstone this afternoon (Saturday) and will start tomorrow’s second F2 race from pole position.

Provisional pole position changed hands no few than five times in the final twelve minutes as Sergey Afanasiev, Johan Jokinen and Jolyon Palmer were amongst those to have set a benchmark time at one stage.

The session took the familiar theme of drivers using worn tyres for the first half of the session, before switching to new rubber for a shootout in the final stages. With five minutes remaining Jack Clarke led from Johan Jokinen and Tom Gladdis, but it seemed the trio had used their fresh tyres too early.

With the circuit improving lap by lap, Eng quickly moved into second and jumped up to first soon after. Palmer made a mistake and ruined his overboost enabled lap, but with no extra power to call upon the Englishman still impressively managed to take second shortly after.

Speaking after the session, a delighted Eng said: "I think I used the boost quite cleverly and that helped me do the best time of the session. At times in Q1 the time difference was quite big so I wasn’t happy, but I obviously improved from first to second qualifying. Now I am in a good position, and with two good starts I have a good chance in both races."

Dean Stoneman was the only runner left on circuit to have a realistic chance of stealing pole, and everything was on course when the 19-year-old set the fastest first sector overall on his final lap. He followed that up with a personal best in sector two, but with pole seemingly at his mercy Stoneman locked up going into Abbey and could only take third at the finish.

Behind the lead trio, Jack Clarke was again impressive as he enjoyed his best qualifying session in F2. The ex-Formula Palmer Audi driver has shown much improved pace during pre-season testing and the 22-year-old will be pleased to have backed that up in qualifying.

Johan Jokinen and Tom Gladdis complete the line-up for row three, ahead of Will Bratt and early pacesetter Sergey Afanasiev. Lithuanian star Kazim Vasiliauskas could only manage ninth as he continues to acclimatise to the upgraded Williams JPH1B F2 car, whilst Mihai Marinescu completed the top ten order.

FIA Formula Two Championship – Rounds 1 & 2 – Silverstone, UK – Qualifying 2 Provisional Classification:
1. Philipp Eng, 1:36.992s
2. Jolyon Palmer, +0.020s
3. Dean Stoneman, +0.104s
4. Jack Clarke, +0.205s
5. Johan Jokinen, +0.250s
6. Tom Gladdis, +0.428s
7. Will Bratt, +0.447s
8. Sergey Afanasiev, +0.594s
9. Kazim Vasiliauskas, +0.782s
10. Mihai Marinescu, +0.897s

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Jolyon Palmer claims dramatic pole position
Briton takes maiden pole in final seconds of opening qualifying session

Jolyon Palmer claimed a dramatic pole position for the opening round of the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship at Silverstone today (Saturday), after the young Briton set the quickest time in the final seconds of the session.

Johan Jokinen looked to have claimed top spot on his F2 qualifying debut, but the Danish driver had to settle for second following Palmer’s last gasp effort. Dean Stoneman led the session at the halfway stage, but ended up third at the finish.

"It feels fantastic," said Jolyon. "This year I feel a lot more confident, I’ve found more pace in the car and I’m really happy with that pole."

The 30 minutes of action began in frenetic fashion with Ivan Samarin, Benjamin Lariche, Jolyon Palmer and Johan Jokinen all spending time at the top during the opening ten minutes. As the majority of cars pitted for new rubber at the halfway stage, Dean Stoneman enjoyed the freedom of the circuit to set the quickest time of the session so far.

Jokinen hit the top with ten minutes remaining, followed by Stoneman, Palmer and series returnee Philipp Eng. Russian racer Sergey Afanasiev then briefly moved into second before a flurry of changes were made to the top order.

Eng went on to set the fastest first sector overall and his personal best in the second section of the track, before a small mistake late on prevented him from improving. He did however better his time shortly after, only to be pipped again by Palmer who was building up his pace in the final moments.

Palmer was one of the last drivers to cross the line as the chequered flag waved and his lap was good enough to secure a fantastic pole position – his first in Formula Two. Eng dropped to fourth behind Jokinen and Stoneman, whilst Afanasiev completed the top five.

"I think the winter testing really helped me," Palmer noted during the press conference. "From there I really haven’t looked back. Confidence has grown since then, and now every time I go in the car I’m looking to be right up at the sharp end – it’s completely different to how I started out last year.

"Tomorrow morning, going down to the first corner, will be crazy. I think tomorrow will certainly be hard, there’s a lot of quick guys around me, but hopefully I can keep my head down in front and hold on for the win."

Will Bratt enjoyed a steady introduction to F2 qualifying and will be happy to take a top six grid slot at his home circuit, whilst Kazim Vasiliauskas improved late on to take seventh. Jack Clarke, Mihai Marinescu and Benjamin Lariche rounded out the top ten.

The session passed largely without incident although Ajith Kumar endured a brief spin and Tom Gladdis returned to the circuit after a trip through the gravel.

FIA Formula Two Championship – Rounds 1 & 2 – Silverstone, UK. Qualifying 1 Provisional Classification:
1. Jolyon Palmer, 1:36.380s
2. Johan Jokinen, +0.141s
3. Dean Stoneman, +0.327s
4. Philipp Eng, +0.676s
5. Sergey Afanasiev, +0.708s
6. Will Bratt, +1.010s
7. Kazim Vasiliauskas, +1.088s
8. Jack Clarke, +1.117s
9. Mihai Marinescu, +1.151s
10. Benjamin Lariche, +1.193s

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