Formulatwo.com talks with the newly crowned 2010 FIA Formula Two Champion

A ninth place finish in race one at Valencia on Saturday 18 September secured the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship title for Britain’s Dean Stoneman, and the 20-year-old went on to celebrate his title success with a podium in race two – the final contest of the season. Speaking to www.formulatwo.com, the newly crowned champion reflects on a fantastic campaign in F2 and talks about his burning ambitions for the future…

You’ve had a few days now to reflect upon Valencia; how does it feel to be 2010 FIA Formula Two Champion?
It feels fantastic! After choosing to take part in Formula Two it’s been a great season – I didn’t expect to win it in my first year, so to walk away with the championship is a huge achievement. I’m already getting recognised more, and yesterday Eddie Irvine phoned me following a radio interview with the BBC to offer congratulations and advice. Now the season is finished there’s time to reflect, but there’s also a lot to think about in the future, and hopefully winning F2 helps me get one step closer to my dream of being in Formula One.

What will you do to prepare for your test with Williams later this year?
I’m obviously preparing physically, but I always go to the gym and keep in shape. I’m trying to lose weight and gain muscle, which is hard but can help make a difference at that level. I also went with Darren Turner to use a simulator of the circuit, which helps give you a basic idea of where the corners go, what gear you should be in etc.

How do you prepare mentally for a test like this?
Other than the simulator work to get a rough idea of the circuit, it’s just a case of getting ready really. It’s really exciting but at the same time I’m not getting my hopes up about how fast I can be before the day, and I’m just going to turn up and do what I do best: get in the car and drive as quickly as I can. With these things you have to just go out there and enjoy it, but I’ll also be studying how the team operates to hopefully learn and move forward myself.

How does this season compare to the rest of your career?
F2 has been great really – I think it’s a good stepping stone for young drivers to go in and learn. In many ways it’s the way forward, not just because of the low budget and the quality and power of the car, but also because it’s a good basis for young drivers looking to take the next step. The fact all the cars are similar also helped me, as it puts the emphasis on driver ability.

Was there a weekend when it all came together, or was it a gradual process?
I think it was a gradual process really, and I was quick in pretty much every round, but taking a double win at Oschersleben was definitely the most enjoyable moment!

Does winning the championship validate your decision to race in F2 rather than other single seater categories?
Definitely. I’m really glad I chose Formula Two: it’s a good championship, the car is great – especially at high speeds – and the level of competition was high. Obviously you get the prize F1 drive at the end, and I’ve also had great publicity which will hopefully help me move into the next step.

What are your hopes for the future now?
It all depends upon budget really, but the aim is GP2. Hopefully winning F2 helps me, as I have a real sense of momentum behind me and now it’s all just about taking advantage of that.

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Russia’s Sergey Afanasiev finishes fifth to secure championship third place

Lithuania’s Kazim Vasiliauskas signed off his 2010 season in style by clinching a lights-to-flag victory in the F2 final round at Valencia today (Sunday 19 September).
Mechanics worked through the night to repair Vasiliauskas‘ car for today’s encounter, after it was heavily damaged following a race one collision with Kelvin Snoeks. The Lithuanian driver repaid the team’s hard work by securing pole position for the season finale, which he converted into an untroubled race win to end his 2010 campaign on a high.
Behind Vasiliauskas, Jack Clarke maintained his front row grid position to secure a well-deserved second place – equalling his best F2 result to date – whilst newly-crowned champion Dean Stoneman made up two places from his sixth place starting position on the opening lap, before battling his way past Ivan Samarin to clinch his 13th podium of the season.
After tussling with Stoneman early on, fourth place Samarin faced a race-long battle to keep fellow countryman Sergey Afanasiev at bay. The pair were nose to tail on several occasions and even went wheel-to-wheel on lap 12, which almost caused Afanasiev to lose control of the car.
However, Afanasiev recovered well and pushed Samarin all the way to the chequered flag – his fifth place finish securing third in the overall championship standings, just four points ahead of Vasiliauskas.
Mihai Marinescu enjoyed a quietly consistent drive to sixth position, whilst Armaan Ebrahim settled for seventh after dropping back from third on the grid on the opening lap. Kelvin Snoeks and Benjamin Bailly scooped eighth and ninth respectively.
Ramon Pineiro ended his debut F2 weekend with an impressive top ten finish, the Spaniard fighting his way past Philipp Eng to pick up a point at his home circuit.
There were several battles raging throughout the field during the race, one of which resulted in contact between Benjamin Lariche and Will Bratt on the opening lap. Lariche clipped the edge of Bratt’s car, which briefly tipped it onto two wheels, however Bratt recovered to finish 15th.

FIA Formula Two Championship – Valencia – Race Two Classification:

1. Kazim Vasiliauskas, 21 Laps
2. Jack Clarke, +2.517s
3. Dean Stoneman, +8.329s
4. Ivan Samarin, +21.085s
5. Sergey Afanasiev, +22.926s
6. Mihai Marinescu, +24.069s
7. Armaan Ebrahim, +25.396s
8. Kelvin Snoeks, +25.053s
9. Benjamin Bailly, +27.880s
10. Ramon Piñeiro, +28.897s

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Lithuanian bounces back from race one roll to score second pole of season

Kazim Vasiliauskas bounced back from a dramatic barrel roll crash in race one to claim his second pole position in the final qualifying F2 session of the year in Valencia today (Sunday).

The Lithuanian driver set his quickest time in the second half of the session on fresh rubber, beating Briton Jack Clarke and India’s Armaan Ebrahim – who set identical times around the 4km Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

The possibility of rain in the second half of the session meant there were divided strategies during the 30 minutes, with newly-crowned champion Dean Stoneman and vice-champion Jolyon Palmer opting to complete their qualifying effort on new tyres earlier than the rest of the field.

The approach looked to have worked as they held first and second respectively with seven minutes remaining. However the dry weather held after the pair had parked their cars, and the times began to tumble as the rest of the field’s tyres got up to temperature. Stoneman will start the season finale from sixth on the grid and Palmer from 14th.

With Stoneman and Palmer in the pit lane, Clarke posted provisional pole before being ousted by Vasiliauskas in the final moments, the Lithuanian snatching his second pole position of 2010.

Clarke will share the front row with Vasiliauskas after equalling his best ever qualifying performance, whilst race one podium finisher Ebrahim continued his impressive form in Valencia to clinch third – setting the exact same time as Clarke in second.

Behind the leading trio, Sergey Afanasiev emerged as hot favourite for third in the overall championship as the Russian cruised to a strong fourth place qualifying position. Five drivers are all in contention for third heading into the final race of the year, but with Afanasiev’s nearest rivals Will Bratt and Philipp Eng both qualifying outside the top ten, the Russian only needs to finish sixth to ensure third overall.

Ivan Samarin meanwhile had an impressive run to fifth, whilst Mihai Marinescu will start behind Stoneman in seventh.

Kelvin Snoeks, who was involved in the clash with Kazim yesterday that resulted in the Lithuanian’s barrel roll, secured eighth place ahead of race one victor Nicola De Marco in ninth position. Benjamin Bailly, part of the quintet competing for third, rounded out the top ten.

FIA Formula Two Championship – Valencia – Qualifying Two Provisional Classification:

1. Kazim Vasiliauskas, 1:25.923s
2. Jack Clarke, +0.235s
3. Armaan Ebrahim, +0.235s
4. Sergey Afanasiev, +0.321s
5. Ivan Samarin, +0.387s
6. Dean Stoneman, +0.442s
7. Mihai Marinescu, +0.529s
8. Kelvin Snoeks, +0.636s
9. Nicola De Marco, +0.664s
10. Benjamin Bailly, +0.733s

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Italian scoops second race win this season as Stoneman secures title

Italy’s Nicola De Marco took a commanding victory in the opening FIA Formula Two Championship contest at Valencia today (Saturday 18 September), as Britain’s Dean Stoneman secured the 2010 title with a top ten finish.

After securing pole position in qualifying, De Marco controlled the race from lights-to-flag to secure his second victory of the season, following a maiden win at Brno, Czech Republic in July.

The Italian faced constant pressure during today’s encounter from Briton Will Bratt, who made up two places from his fourth place grid slot to move into second off the start line before staying on De Marco’s tail throughout the race.

"That was a fantastic race, I’m really happy with it," De Marco said. "Will stayed near me for the whole race so it was difficult, but it was really important for me to make another win."

A delighted Armaan Ebrahim maintained his career-best third place grid position to take his maiden F2 podium result, whilst Philipp Eng and Sergey Afanasiev managed to scythe past Benjamin Lariche in the final stages of the 25 lap race to snatch fourth and fifth respectively. Lariche had defended gallantly until that point, the Frenchman showing strong pace throughout the weekend around the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

Behind Lariche, a fierce battle raged throughout race one for seventh position, with title protagonist Jolyon Palmer fending off several challenges from Belgium’s Benjamin Bailly.

The duo were also joined in an early tussle by Dean Stoneman, although after realising that he only needed to keep Palmer within four places of him to win the championship, Stoneman eased off to cruise over the line in ninth place as the newly-crowned F2 title holder.

"It’s fantastic to be sitting in this position," said Stoneman. "Hopefully now with the Formula 1 test I can prove myself and go further on in motorsport."

Ivan Samarin rounded out the top ten, ahead of an entertaining race-long scrap between Johannes Theobald and Kelvin Snoeks.

Snoeks was involved in an opening lap drama, as the Dutch driver clashed with Kazim Vasiliauskas at the first corner. The contact caused Vasiliauskas‘ car to barrel roll into the gravel, but thankfully the Lithuanian walked away unharmed.

Aside from Kazim, the only other retirement from the race was Natalia Kowalska, who pulled off at turn 11 with mechanical problems.

Although the title chase has been decided, five drivers are still in contention for third in the championship and the prize of FIA Superlicence eligibility. Today’s result sees Afanasiev retain third, although Will Bratt and Philipp Eng move to within three and five points respectively of the Russian.

FIA Formula Two Championship – Valencia – Race One:

1. Nicola De Marco, 24 Laps
2. Will Bratt, +1.210s
3. Armaan Ebrahim, +17.815s
4. Philipp Eng,+19.142s
5. Sergey Afanasiev, +21.706s
6. Benjamin Lariche, +23.046s
7. Jolyon Palmer, +23.667s
8. Benjamin Bailly, +24.017s
9. Dean Stoneman, +25.410s
10. Ivan Samarin, +30.207s

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Southampton racer scoops prize test drive with the Williams F1 team

British driver Dean Stoneman has clinched the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship in Valencia, Spain today (Saturday 18 September) to secure a prize test drive with the Williams Formula One team.

The 20-year-old from Southampton emerged triumphant from a season-long battle with fellow countryman Jolyon Palmer to be crowned the first British F2 title winner since Formula Two Series Director Jonathan Palmer lifted the European Championship trophy in 1983.

As his prize for securing the Formula Two crown, Stoneman will earn a full test with the Williams F1 team. He will also qualify for an FIA Superlicence, required to compete in Formula One Grands Prix.

Stoneman secured the honours in the opening race at this weekend’s Valencian season finale, cruising home to a comfortable ninth place finish to build up an unassailable 27 point lead over his rival Palmer, who finished seventh.

Dean Stoneman said: “It’s only just starting to settle in really. Getting into Formula One has always been my dream, and this just brings me one step closer to that. It’s hard to know what to expect but it’s obviously a fantastic opportunity to be testing a Williams Formula One car, so hopefully I can prove myself. I’m just going to go there and do what I do best: get in the car and drive as fast as I can!”

2010 marks Stoneman’s first season in the FIA Formula Two Championship and the British racer has shone amongst a international field of drivers, securing victories during F2’s inaugural visit to Marrakech, Morocco and his home circuit Brands Hatch in July. The newly-crowned champion has also taken race wins in Belgium, Portugal and a sensational double victory in the penultimate round at Oschersleben, Germany earlier this month.

Stoneman continued: “I’ve got to say well done to Jolyon, as throughout the season we’ve had some fantastic races, and thank you to F2 Series Director Jonathan Palmer for putting together such a brilliant championship for myself and the other competitors. And also thank you to my father, who has backed me all the way.”

Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision, said: "Dean has done a superb job this season and is certainly the worthy champion of the 2010 FIA F2 Championship. He is an outstanding talent, being extremely quick, a tough fighter, and very consistent. I am very confident Dean will prove the high standard of competition in F2 by performing impressively when he has his Williams F1 test drive. The fact that the affordable, level playing field of F2 has given Dean the opportunity to highlight his talent, without having a big budget, will undoubtedly inspire others."

Stoneman gained a reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting young prospects after a superb breakthrough year in the 2008 Formula Renault UK Championship, where he took three wins, nine podiums and three pole positions – a superior record than Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton’s debut season in the same formula.

The new 2010 Formula Two champion will be following in the footsteps of 2009 title holder Spain’s Andy Soucek, who secured a reserve driver role with the Virgin F1 team after setting the pace in his prize test drive at Jerez in Spain last December.

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Lithuanian tops timesheets as weather plays havoc in Valencia

Kazim Vasiliauskas topped the timesheets in a rain-hit FIA Formula Two Championship second practice session in Valencia today (Friday 17 September), the Lithuanian setting a storming early pace to finish almost three quarters of a second clear of the rest of the field.
With the session starting dry, Vasiliauskas made the most of the early running and rose to the top on his first flying lap. Afanasiev briefly demoted him, but he responded with a quicker time to dip into the 1m28s bracket, just as rain started to fall on the 4km Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
That prompted most of the field to come into the pits, only for the rain to abate slightly and confuse the issue as to whether slicks or dry tyres were the best option. The rain did however freeze the times as the track became significantly slower, effectively making the session a five-minute shootout.
With his place at the top therefore secure, Vasiliauskas did not go out again and completed just six laps during the 30 minute free practice.
Championship leader Dean Stoneman finished second after a strong start to the session, with Russia’s Sergey Afanasiev third. Both drivers opted to stay on slicks during the rain, with Stoneman in particular enjoying a long run when the field initially pitted, completing 14 laps overall – the highest tally in the field.
Behind the lead trio, Ivan Samarin and Will Bratt were the only other drivers to finish within one second of Vasiliauskas in fourth and fifth respectively.
Kelvin Snoeks and Nicola De Marco continued their impressive recent form to occupy the next two spots, with Benjamin Bailly finishing less than two tenths of a second further down the road in eighth.
Ricardo Teixeira was ninth, while Ramón Piñeiro was tenth in only his second competitive session in Formula Two.
Championship contender Jolyon Palmer was 19th, the Briton dropping down the order as he was unable to complete a flying lap in the dry. He did however complete six laps on wet tyres, stoking up the tension ahead of tomorrow’s races as he and Stoneman battled out on circuit in the closing stages.
Despite the weather Natalia Kowalska was the only retirement, the Polish racer spinning out on the outside of the final corner. Afanasiev took a trip through the gravel at turn seven, but was able to rejoin without fuss.
FIA Formula Two Championship – Valencia, Spain – Free Practice Two Overall Classification:
1. Kazim Vasiliauskas, 1:28.466s
2. Dean Stoneman, +0.745s
3. Sergey Afanasiev, +0.850s
4. Ivan Samarin, +0.943s
5. Will Bratt, +0.965s
6. Kelvin Snoeks, +1.047s
7. Nicola De Marco, +1.126s
8. Benjamin Bailly, +1.325s
9. Ricardo Teixeira, +1.452s
10. Ramón Piñeiro, +1.514s

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Frenchman ousts Philipp Eng with late flying lap in free practice one

Frenchman Benjamin Lariche set the pace in the opening Formula Two free practice session at Valencia today (Friday) after posting an impressive late flying lap around the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

It was Jack Clarke that led the field initially in the 30 minute session, the Briton over a second clear of the rest of the field until his time was surpassed by Austria’s Philipp Eng.

The pair briefly traded times, before Eng managed to regain his advantage halfway through free practice and looked set to end the session at the top of the timesheets until a storming lap catapulted Lariche up the field into first place.

Today marks Lariche’s best performance in an F2 free practice session, although the Frenchman has good knowledge and experience of Valencia, as he scored his first car victory at the circuit in the 2008 Formula Renault West European Cup.

Behind Lariche and Eng, Clarke secured a solid third place with Kazim Vasiliauskas in fourth position – the Lithuanian edging out Russia’s Sergey Afanasiev by just one thousandth of a second.

Nicola De Marco finished sixth fastest, ahead of Kelvin Snoeks in seventh, whilst Will Bratt was eighth.

Mihai Marinescu secured ninth quickest at the chequered flag, with Belgium’s Benjamin Bailly rounding out the top ten.

In the championship fight, Dean Stoneman fired the opening salvo as the Briton ended free practice one in eleventh, ahead of title rival Jolyon Palmer in fourteenth – although the pair were separated by just three tenths of a second.

FIA Formula Two Championship – Valencia, Spain – Free Practice One Overall Classification:
1. Benjamin Lariche, 1:28.022s
2. Philipp Eng, +0.149s
3. Jack Clarke, +0.238s
4. Kazim Vasiliauskas, +0.778s
5. Sergey Afanasiev, +0.779s
6. Nicola De Marco, +0.871s
7. Kelvin Snoeks, +0.943s
8. Will Bratt, +0.1.035s
9. Mihai Marinescu, +1.040s
10. Benjamin Bailly, +1.083s

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Dean Stoneman and Jolyon Palmer bidding for FIA Formula Two Championship glory

Two of Britain’s best young talents will go wheel-to-wheel for the opportunity of a lifetime at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain this weekend (18/19 September) as they bid to win the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship and a prize test drive with the Williams F1 team.

20-year-old Dean Stoneman from Southampton and 19-year-old Jolyon Palmer from Southwater in Sussex are the two outstanding title contenders in Formula Two, an international single seater series designed to provide rising stars with a cost-effective route into top level motorsport.

The FIA-regulated F2 championship has a close association with Williams F1, who will offer a full day’s test in their 2010 FW32 challenger to the eventual F2 champion. The Formula Two car was also designed by a six-man team from Williams, led by their legendary Director of Engineering Patrick Head.

Stoneman and Palmer have proved the class of the field in 2010, and the pair have enjoyed a fierce season-long battle which has seen the championship lead change several times during the opening 16 races. Stoneman holds the advantage going into the final two encounters following a supreme double victory in the previous round at Oschersleben in Germany. The 20-year-old also recorded victories during F2’s inaugural visit to Marrakech, Morocco in May, along with race wins in Belgium, Portugal and his home circuit Brands Hatch in July.

However Stoneman still faces formidable competition from Palmer, who is bidding to become the first British F2 champion since his father – ex-F1 driver and BBC commentator Jonathan – who took the European F2 title in 1983.

Palmer has been on winning form from the start of the 2010 season, as the Nottingham University student scored a commanding victory in the season opener at Silverstone before notching up a further four wins – including a double triumph at the famous Monza Grand Prix circuit in May.

Dean Stoneman said: “Going from the beginning of the year, I didn’t expect to be as fast as I have been. I was hoping obviously to do the best I could, which was to finish in the top three, but fighting for the championship has been really good and hopefully I can go into the first race and secure the title.”

Jolyon Palmer added: “Being second I’ve nothing to lose really; I’ve got no pressure on me. I know the Valencia track quite well and I was quck in the winter test there last year so I’m feeling confident. It’s been an amazing season, and whatever happens for me it’s been the best year of my career. Still there’s a bit more to be pushed out of it, and hopefully I can get the prize at the end.”

The winning driver will follow in the footsteps of 2009 champion Andy Soucek, who beat Force India and McLaren reserve drivers Paul di Resta and Gary Paffett to top the timesheets during his pirze test for the Williams F1 team last December, before securing a reserve driver role with the Virgin F1 team.

In addition to a Formula One rookie test drive for the overall champion, the top three finishers in this year’s F2 title showdown will qualify for FIA Superlicences, which are necessary to test or compete in Formula One.

For more information on the FIA Formula Two Championship visit www.formulatwo.com

Briton doubles up in Germany as Vasiliauskas and Afanasiev complete the podium

Dean Stoneman took a massive stride towards winning the 2010 Formula Two championship by claiming his second win of the weekend in Oschersleben.

Starting from pole, Stoneman held his lead through the opening corners and looked assured throughout the 23-lap contest. His sixth win of the season sees him move 31 points clear of title rival Jolyon Palmer – who could only finish 12th – with just two rounds remaining.

"Obviously I’ve moved a lot closer to the title," Stoneman enthused after the race. "I’ve got a 31 point lead, so that’s good for us because I’ve got a race in hand. All I’ve got to do now is keep it consistent, finish the next two races in Valencia and hopefully I can win the championship!"

With overtaking at a premium on the intricate 3.7km Oschersleben circuit, Palmer faced an uphill challenge after a difficult qualifying left him 14th on the grid. He initially made good progress and was tenth by the end of the first lap, but he ran wide at turn one when trying to pass Ivan Samarin and dropped down the order, denting his championship hopes.

Kazim Vasiliauskas finished less than two seconds behind Stoneman in second, although the Lithuanian had spent much of the race in third behind Nicola De Marco. The Italian suffered heartbreak in the closing stages however as his car retired at turn one, allowing Vasiliauskas to move into second and thereby secure his best two results of the season.

Having kept touch with the lead trio throughout the race, Sergey Afanasiev was able to close on Vasiliauskas and De Marco as the pair battled for second, before also profiting from De Marco’s retirement to seal the final podium spot and move seven points clear in the race for third in the championship.

Kelvin Snoeks meanwhile enjoyed his best result since Marrakech, the Dutchman completing an impressive race which included a good pass on Benjamin Bailly at turn one to claim fourth at the chequered flag.

Bailly then slipped back into the clutches of Mihai Marinescu and Will Bratt, who enjoyed an engaging battle for sixth for the duration of the race. Bailly held on to take fifth, while Bratt – who came close to tapping Marinescu at the midway stage as he fought to find a way through – was forced to settle for seventh, with Marinescu sixth.

Behind them, Ivan Samarin had to defend for much of the race before eventually taking a hard-fought eighth place. Samarin first came under pressure from title contender Jolyon Palmer, before Philipp Eng set about attacking the Russian after Palmer ran wide at turn one and dropped down the order.

Samarin hung on superbly as several cars lined up behind him, eventually finishing just 0.284s ahead of Eng – who in turn finished less than one second clear of Armaan Ebrahim in tenth.

France’s Benjamin Lariche was a further half second back, with Palmer finishing 12th ahead of F2 debutant Johannes Theobald and Bulgaria’s Plamen Kralev.

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Dutchman enjoys his best session of the year in second practice

Dutchman Kelvin Snoeks had his best ever session in Formula Two during today’s second free practice session, running at the front for the majority of the half hour before recording the fastest time.

Snoeks seems to get on well with this circuit, with his best race in Formula Master last season occurring at this very track, and he built on a third place finish this morning by topping the timesheets in second practice – dipping into the 1m21s barrier twice, the only man to do so during the 30 minutes.

Jack Clarke was second, although he lost time mid way through the session after spinning into the gravel at turn five. He was unable to recover under his own steam, but was lifted out of the gravel by the marshals and returned to the track, setting his best time late on in the session.

Kazim Vasiliauskas showed good consistency to record the third fastest time, with Ricardo Teixeira continuing his impressive pace from the opening session to wind up the session in fourth.

This morning’s fastest man Sergey Afanasiev could only manage fifth this time around, while championship contenders Jolyon Palmer and Dean Stoneman were sixth and 11^th.

Benjamin Bailly and Ebrahim were seventh and eighth while Johannes Theobald continued to impress on his F2 debut with the ninth fastest time.

The warm sunshine was a contrast to this morning’s grey and damp practice, but several drivers were still caught out by the technical nature of the Oschersleben track. Plamen Kralev had several excursions during the session, while Armaan Ebrahim twice went off at turn 12. Will Bratt and Ivan Samarin also had off track excursions on their way to 10^th and 17^th respectively. All drivers were able to continue.

With the top ten in each practice period separated by less than a second, qualifying is likely to be a close-run affair in which the championship contenders will be looking to move further up the order. Qualifying starts at 16.15CET, with live text commentary and live timing available from the Formula Two website.

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Russian edges out Dean Stoneman to top first practice session

Following a four week summer break, the FIA Formula Two Championship returned to the tarmac today at Oschersleben, with Russia’s Sergey Afanasiev getting his weekend off to a perfect start by topping the timesheets in the first free practice session.

Afanasiev, who finished second at the track last year in International Formula Master, made the most of a progressively drying circuit to clinch the top spot in the final few minutes of the session – denying championship contender Dean Stoneman by little over two hundredths of a second.

Stoneman was forced to settle for second, although the Briton was once again highly impressive as he set about learning the technical Oschersleben circuit for the first time.

Behind the lead duo, Kelvin Snoeks finished third fastest after topping the timesheets at the halfway stage. Like Afanasiev, Snoeks has raced at the circuit before in International Formula Master, and the Dutchman made the most of his previous experience by finishing third quickest.

While Stoneman finished second, his title rival and current championship leader Jolyon Palmer also started the weekend strongly as he topped the timesheets on several occasions before eventually finishing fourth. Just four points separate the pair going into what could be a potentially decisive penultimate round here in Germany.

Behind Palmer, Kazim Vasiliauskas, Jack Clarke and Ricardo Teixeira finished within one tenth of a second of each other in fifth through to seventh. Vasiliauskas and Clarke both ran well at the circuit last year in Formula Two, and the pair looked in good touch again – Kazim in particular impressing by setting the fastest time of any driver in the first sector.

France’s Benjamin Lariche finished eighth fastest, just over three hundredths of a second ahead of Armaan Ebrahim – who arrived in Germany after spending two weeks in Brazil filming India’s ‚Fear Factor‘.

Johannes Theobald, making his F2 debut on home soil this weekend, completed a highly impressive session by rounding out the top ten – fractions ahead of Brno race winner Nicola De Marco and older brother Julian, both of whom finished within nine tenths of Afanasiev’s benchmark time.

Early pace setters Philipp Eng and Benjamin Bailly faded a little toward the end, ending the session in 15th and 16th respectively.

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Briton out-drags title rival Stoneman to take assured fifth victory

Jolyon Palmer reclaimed the overall lead in the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship courtesy of an assured victory in today’s second race.

Starting on the front row alongside title rival Dean Stoneman – who wrested the overall lead from Palmer just 24 hours ago – Jolyon made a superb start to out-drag Stoneman on the run down to the first corner.

The pair were almost inseparable in the opening stages, exchanging fastest laps and establishing an early lead over the rest of the field. The gap peaked at just over one second on lap ten, and although Stoneman was able to close again on Palmer in the final stages he was never able to mount a full challenge for the lead.

Despite having Stoneman looming in his mirrors, Palmer looked assured and composed throughout, eventually claiming his fifth victory of the season and recapturing the championship lead in the process.

"That was all about the start – it was a perfect getaway," Palmer reflected. "I couldn’t pull away from Dean but we were both pulling away from third, so I just made sure not to make any mistakes and keep him behind.

"I was pretty relieved when the chequered flag came, but at the same time I was in control of my own race."

Behind the lead pair, Philipp Eng looked set to take third after winning an opening lap duel with Kazim Vasiliauskas for third – Eng losing out to the Lithuanian away from the line before a bold move on the outside of turn three saw him reclaim the position.

The Austrian suffered heartbreak however when his car retired on the final lap of the race, handing third to Vasiliauskas – his third podium of the year.

Sergey Afanasiev built upon a podium in yesterday’s race to lead home Benjamin Bailly in the battle for fourth, the Russian withstanding heavy early pressure to finish just over a second clear of Bailly.

Yesterday’s race winner Nicola De Marco also had to withstand heavy pressure from Benjamin Lariche for almost the entire duration of the race, but held on to complete the most successful weekend of his 2010 season. Unable to find a way past, Lariche nevertheless scored his best result of the year in seventh.

Kelvin Snoeks finished less than a second down the road in eighth, while Jack Clarke made superb early progress to clinch ninth, having started from 14th on the grid. Will Bratt rounded out the top ten, the Briton losing out at the start before working his way back up the order with eye-catching moves on Armaan Ebrahim and Mihai Marinescu.

Outside the top ten, Tom Gladdis enjoyed engrossing duels with Armaan Ebrahim and later Mihai Marinescu, while Ricardo Teixeira was the only race casualty other than Philipp Eng – the Angolan being tipped into a spin and out of the race by Plamen Kralev on the opening lap.

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Championship leaders share the front row as Jolyon Palmer sets second fastest time

Championship leaders Dean Stoneman and Jolyon Palmer will share the front row for today’s second race at Brno, setting up what could be a pivotal moment in the fight for the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship.

Stoneman, who wrested the championship lead from Palmer after yesterday’s opening race, took his second pole of the weekend with an imperious display in second qualifying – the Briton going out early on fresh rubber and setting a dominant 1m45.683s with ten minutes of the boost-enabled session still remaining.

Having used his boosts, Stoneman returned to the pits and the rest of the field took up the challenge of responding to his benchmark. Philipp Eng initially looked to have come closest, the Austrian moving to within half a second of Stoneman’s benchmark, before Jolyon Palmer pipped the Austrian with five minutes to go to take second.

Neither driver was able to really challenge Stoneman, however, leaving him to take his fifth pole position of the season. "I wasn’t going to do the strategy that I did," Stoneman said, "but I had nothing to lose and I just went out there and went for it early."

Palmer’s late effort demoted Eng to third, meaning the championship’s top three will start from first to third respectively – setting up a potentially thrilling run down to the first corner between the three main title protagonists.

Kazim Vasiliauskas showed hugely improved form in today’s qualifying session to take fourth, having set the fastest first sector time of anyone during the session.

Yesterday’s race winner Nicola De Marco will share the third row with Russia’s Sergey Afanasiev, after the pair both set their best times with four minutes of the session remaining. De Marco finished just shy of six tenths of a second off Stoneman, while Afanasiev – third in yesterday’s qualifying – was just over four tenths of a second further back, underlining just how impressive Stoneman’s benchmark was.

Benjamin Lariche had been running an impressive fourth with just five minutes to go, but the Frenchman was forced to settle for seventh at the chequered flag as several drivers improved late on.

Lariche will line up alongside Benjamin Bailly, who finished fourth in race one, while Will Bratt edged Mihai Marinescu by the closest margin of the session to clinch ninth, less than two hundredths of a second ahead of the Romanian.

With the track bathed in sunshine it proved to be a remarkably incident-free session, minor moments for Jack Clarke and Ricardo Teixeira the only incidents of note

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Italian takes assured first victory as Stoneman snatches championship lead

Nicola De Marco claimed his first F2 victory in today’s opening race at Brno, the Italian jumping polesitter Dean Stoneman at the start and looking assured throughout the 20 lap contest.

Once into the lead De Marco set about establishing an impressive early pace that Stoneman could not quite match, building up a gap of around two seconds by lap eight which he then gradually extended during the remainder of the race.

De Marco, who qualified on pole and then slipped up from the lead in last year’s two races here in Brno, was justifiably delighted: "This is a really important win for me – it’s my first in F2 but also because it’s here in Brno where last year I did a mistake when I was first."

Stoneman could not quite challenge De Marco for the lead, but nonetheless took an impressive second place in his first ever race on the Brno circuit – his haul of 18 points helping him wrest the overall championship lead from Jolyon Palmer, who finished the race in fifth.

Russia’s Sergey Afanasiev finished a relatively quiet third – his third podium this year following top three finishes at Silverstone and Monza – with Benjamin Bailly looking comfortable in fourth.

Bailly had lost out to the fast-starting Philipp Eng on the opening lap, but went round the outside of his Austrian rival at turn three as Jolyon Palmer also looked to challenge Eng on the inside. Palmer was unable to find a way past Eng, setting up an engaging duel for fifth which saw the pair often separated by just over half a second during the opening stages.

Palmer eventually found a way through on lap 13, completing a well-worked pass on the inside of Eng going into turn three. The Austrian tried to respond with a challenge just two corners later, but Palmer defended well and Eng was forced to back out of the move – eventually coming home in sixth, several seconds down the road from Palmer.

Behind that battle, Kelvin Snoeks – starting from seventh on his return to F2 – was working hard to keep Britain’s Will Bratt at bay. Bratt himself had Tom Gladdis less than one second behind for much of the race, and was ultimately unable to find a way past Snoeks, even when Gladdis fell back to 12th after spinning at turn seven. Snoeks finished seventh, his second best result of the year after a podium at Marrakech, with Bratt finishing less than six tenths of a second behind.

Ricardo Teixeira and Benjamin Lariche enjoyed a race-long battle for ninth, with the Angolan eventually claiming the position by just over six tenths of a second – Lariche settling for tenth to continue his remarkable record of scoring points in every event this year.

Outside the top ten, Mihai Marinescu had an eventful race after clattering cones on the final corner in the opening lap. One cone became wedged in front of Mihai’s left sidepod, and the resulting loss of aerodynamic performance caused him to drop back through the field until he eventually pitted to remove the item.

Jack Clarke and Armaan Ebrahim endured a disappointing opening race as the pair collided on the opening corner – Clarke seemingly spinning on the apex of the right-hander and collecting Ebrahim in the process.

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Briton edges De Marco by just 0.045s; Sergey Afanasiev takes third

Britain’s Dean Stoneman sealed his fourth pole position of the season today at Brno, edging out 2009 polesitter Nicola De Marco by just 0.045s.

Stoneman left it late in the session, eventually moving to the top of the timesheets in a frantic last five minutes that also saw Nicola De Marco, Jolyon Palmer and Sergey Afanasiev take spells at the top.

It was Afanasiev who made the best start to the session, topping the timesheets for nearly all of the opening ten minutes before the field pitted for fresh rubber. The Russian resumed his spell at the top with around ten minutes to go, only to be displaced by Jolyon Palmer as the times began to tumble.

Stoneman was next to hold provisional pole, only for Nicola De Marco to capture the position by dipping into the 1m45s bracket for the first time. The response was immediate, Stoneman shaving half a second off his previous best to sit fastest with a 1:45.597s. De Marco tried to respond, but fell agonisingly short – missing out by just over four hundredths of a second.

Stoneman, who has never raced at Brno before, enthused: "I went out there to get pole but I didn’t expect to get that lap out there on a difficult track. Overall I was just chipping away at the session trying to get a quick lap – it’s obviously another new track for me and I only did 19 laps yesterday so it’s been pretty good. I’m fairly confident, hopefully I’ve got the start sussed and the aim is to win – but also to finish in front of Jolyon and Philipp."

Behind the lead duo, Sergey Afanasiev improved late on to capture third, with Benjamin Bailly also rising up through the order in the final minutes to claim fourth, just over one tenth of a second behind the Russian.

That meant championship leader Jolyon Palmer had to settle for fifth, although a late yellow flag period – brought about as Natalia Kowalska spun into the gravel and out of the session at turn seven – prevented him from mustering a final challenge. He will share the third row with fellow title contender Philipp Eng, the Austrian finishing just seven hundredths of a second behind Palmer.

Kelvin Snoeks, making his return to F2 after missing the last round at Brands Hatch with a broken ankle, was an impressive seventh, edging out Tom Gladdis – a points finisher here last year – by less than 0.03s.

The closest margin in the field was reserved for the fifth row, however, with Ricardo Teixeira and Will Bratt separated by just one thousandth of a second – Angola’s Teixeira ultimately claiming ninth, with Bratt rounding out the top ten.

In another typically close F2 qualifying session, Romania’s Mihai Marinescu missed out on a top ten starting berth by less than two hundredths of a second, while the top 17 drivers were covered by less than 1.4s.

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