Full entry list revealed for official pre-season test

Eighteen drivers from 11 different countries will take part in tomorrow’s (Wednesday 28 March) official FIA Formula Two pre-season test session at the Silverstone GP circuit.

Among them is a wide variety of new and returning drivers all eager to begin preparations for the 2012 and fourth F2 season, which gets underway on 14/15 April at the 5.901 km Northamptonshire venue.

2011 runner-up Christopher Zanella heads a number of returning drivers which includes former race-winner Mihai Marinescu along with Comma-backed Luciano Bacheta, James Cole, Parthiva Sureshwaren, Plamen Kralev and José Luis Abadin.

The test will also see a welcome return for 2010 F2 champion Dean Stoneman who makes his first appearance in the Williams designed F2 car since being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The F2 paddock will also feature several new faces including David Zhu, the first Chinese driver to compete in any era of F2, Iranian Kourosh Khani, who steps up from Formula Renault BARC, and Formula BMW Pacific driver Axcil Jefferies from Zimbabwe.

Along with Bacheta and Stoneman, home grown talent comes in the form of Daniel McKenzie, who makes the switch from Formula Renault 3.5, McLaren Autosport Award finalist Dino Zamparelli and Formula Renault BARC graduate Hector Hurst.

Three Swiss drivers will also be present for the test with European F3 Champion Alex Fontana, Formula Pilot China Champion Matheo Tuscher and Formula Renault 2.0 convert Mauro Calamia. German Markus Pommer completes the line-up.

The test will also be the first time drivers will experience the upgraded F2 car featuring new Yokohama tyres and carbon brakes.

The first of four test sessions begins at 09:30 with full coverage, including live timing, available on www.formulatwo.com.

Silverstone pre-season test – entry list:

2 James Cole (GBR)
4 Luciano Bacheta (GBR)
5 Parthiva Sureshwaren (IND)
7 David Zhu (CHN)
8 Plamen Kralev (BUL)
9 Mihai Marinescu (ROM)
10 Alex Fontana (CHE)
11 Kourosh Khani (IRN)
12 Matheo Tuscher (CHE)
13 Jose Luis Abadin (ESP)
14 Mauro Calamia (CHE)
18 Dino Zamparelli (GBR)
19 Christopher Zanella (CHE)
20 Daniel McKenzie (GBR)
22 Axcil Jefferies (ZWE)
27 Markus Pommer (DEU)
35 Hector Hurst (GBR)
48 Dean Stoneman (GBR)

Testing schedule:

Session 1: 09:30-10:30
Session 2: 11:30-12:30
Session 3: 14:30-15:30
Session 4: 16:15-17:00
For more information on the series click onto www.formulatwo.com

2011 runner-up eyes Williams F1 prize

2011 FIA Formula Two runner-up Christopher Zanella has his sights firmly set on championship victory and the Williams F1 prize test after confirming he is to return to the series in 2012.

The 22-year-old Swiss racer produced an outstanding maiden season last year with two wins and seven podiums to secure second place in the standings, which secured eligibility for an FIA Super Licence required to compete in Formula One.

Prior to F2, Zanella quickly established himself as one of his country’s leading motorsport talents starting with victory in the Formula Renault 2.0 Switzerland Championship in 2008, whilst he also competed in selected Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 races. From here he graduated to Formula Three in the Euro Series with the Motopark Academy team and claimed his first podium finish at the final round in Hockenheim in 2009.
He continued to race occasionally in the F3 Euro Series in 2010 alongside a full campaign in the Italian Formula 3 Championship, where he finished sixth overall, before making the step up to F2 in 2011.
Zanella said: “I’m really looking forward to this season and have been working hard over the winter to prepare. It’s going to be really tough though as I finished second last year so I have to win this season. I have an advantage over some of the drivers because I have more experience but I still have to adapt to the new tyres and brakes of the upgraded F2 car.”

He added: “I would love to get my hands on the Williams F1 test, like any aspiring F1 driver. It would be a dream come true.”

Formula Two Series Director Jonathan Palmer said: “I’m delighted to welcome Christopher back to F2. He impressed me enormously by recording his maiden podium at Silverstone in only his second race, and from 10th on the grid. He followed that up with a standout double victory in Magny-Cours before going on to score four more consecutive podiums to become Mirko Bortolotti’s main title rival. With his experience in F2, Christopher will undoubtedly be one of the favourites for the title and the Williams F1 test this year.”

Christopher will join the official pre-season test tomorrow (Wednesday 28 March) at Silverstone circuit. For more information visit www.formulatwo.com

2010 Champion set for welcome return after cancer battle

2010 FIA Formula Two Champion Dean Stoneman will make a welcome return to the series this week when he takes part in the first official F2 test at Silverstone on 28 March – marking his first time in the Williams designed car since recovering from illness.

The 21-year-old from Southampton fought off strong competition from Jolyon Palmer during a thrilling 2010 season to secure championship victory, having achieved six wins and 13 podiums. His reward was a full test with the Williams F1 Team in Abu Dhabi during the rookie tests, where he finished an impressive fifth overall against a very strong field.

Stoneman had then planned to compete in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2011 with ISR but was forced to put his flourishing single seater career on hold when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Since then Dean’s battled with typical spirit and determination to overcome his illness and, after a year out of racing, recently tested a World Series by Renault car and an Indy Lights machine at Las Vegas.

He now hopes to continue his recovery by returning to the familiar environment of F2 and the 500bhp JPH1B car where Stoneman admits he feels at home: “I’m looking forward to testing the new car. I’m still weighing up all options for this year so returning to F2 is a distinct possibility. F2 is a great environment for me to continue my recovery, in a car I know and on circuits I enjoy racing on.”

He added: “We will see how the Silverstone test goes before deciding what to do this year.”

The first official FIA Formula Two Championship test takes place on Wednesday 28 March on the Silverstone GP circuit with full coverage available on the official F2 website. A full entry list for the test will also be announced shortly on www.formulatwo.com

German F3 star eyeing top three finish

21-year-old German Markus Pommer has become the latest driver to announce his participation in the 2012 FIA Formula Two Championship.

Pommer graduates to F2 after a successful campaign in German F3 last season with a hat-trick of podium finishes in the final three races on his way to seventh overall. Last year he also impressed during F2 winter testing in Barcelona to go an excellent second fastest on day two – lapping just 0.014s off the leader’s pace.

Since making his karting debut at the age of eight, Pommer has quickly established himself as one of his country’s most exciting prospects, having been crowned South German karting champion and ICA Junior vice champion in 2006.

After honing his karting skills, the German made the move into single seater racing in 2007 with the Formula BMW ADAC series, where he finished 10th in his maiden season.

In 2008 he graduated to the ADAC Formula Masters championship, taking a win and five podiums on his way to fifth. The following year he stepped up to German F3, finishing a superb third in his first year. Markus has continued to impress in F3 for the past two seasons becoming a regular podium finisher, including scoring four podiums last year, and now hopes to continue this success into F2.

“For me, F2 is the logical step after Formula 3,” said Pommer. “It was great to drive the car during winter testing last year and I was very impressed with the power and features like the overboost. I learnt a lot from the two days and grew in confidence from session to session, as well as demonstrating good pace. My goal is to finish in the top three in 2012. I know it’s possible as everyone has the same chance.”

Jonathan Palmer, Formula Two Chief Executive, added: “Markus has enjoyed a great deal of success in his racing career so far and is clearly an exciting prospect, so we’re delighted he’s competing in F2 this year. He adapted to the Williams F2 car remarkably quickly during winter testing and was impressively quick from the outset. I’m looking forward to seeing what he achieves this season in the equal environment of Formula Two.”

For more information on the series click onto www.formulatwo.com