JANUARY 17, 2009

Formula 2 filling up fast

The Formula 2 field for 2009 is filling up rapidly with 16 drivers now having been announced and a further two signed but yet to be made public. This means that there are only six slots remaining open.

The Formula 2 field for 2009 is filling up rapidly with 16 drivers now having been announced and a further two signed but yet to be made public. This means that there are only six slots remaining open.

The most significant new signing is that of Andy Soucek, who becomes the first fulltime GP2 driver to switch to the new Formula 2. The Spaniard will be the most experienced driver in the series, having scored three podium finishes in his two seasons of GP2 with DPR and SuperNova. The former Spanish F3 Champion says that his target remains a drive in F1 and believes that the F2 championship is a good way to achieve that.

"I am convinced that I have the experience to fight for the F2 title," he said. "This is my goal, as the superlicence and official Williams F1 test drive are both attractive awards."

Among the other drivers to have been confirmed in recent days is Russia's Mikhail Aleshin, who has long enjoyed the support of Red Bull. He has spent the last three years racing in the Renault World Series, with a couple of outings in 2007 in GP2.

Also joining the series are Britain's Jack Clarke, a former Palmer Audi competitor, Jolyon Palmer (another FPA graduate and son of the organiser Jonathan Palmer) and Italian Nicola de Marco, who finished fourth in the Spanish F3 championship last year.