OCTOBER 7, 2008

Top 3 in Formula 2 will get F1 licences

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has ruled that the top 3 finishers in the new FIA Formula Two Championship will qualify for an FIA Superlicence in 2010. the current rules allow for the granting of an F1 licence to the top 3 in GP2 or in GP2 Asia, the top 3 in Formula Nippon in Japan, the top three in the Indy Racing League or as a Formula 3 Euroseries champion, or the F3 champion of Britain, Italy, Japan or Spain, or the Renault World Series champion.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has ruled that the top 3 finishers in the new FIA Formula Two Championship will qualify for an FIA Superlicence in 2010. the current rules allow for the granting of an F1 licence to the top 3 in GP2 or in GP2 Asia, the top 3 in Formula Nippon in Japan, the top three in the Indy Racing League or as a Formula 3 Euroseries champion, or the F3 champion of Britain, Italy, Japan or Spain, or the Renault World Series champion. There is also an allowance for drivers who have been judged by the FIA to have consistently demonstrated outstanding ability in single-seater formula cars, but with no opportunity to qualify by the aforementioned means. In these cases the driver must complete 300km of F1 testing.

Given the relative budgets of Formula 2 and GP2 it is safe to assume that more than a few of the rising stars will take the F2 route in the future.

The big question may be whether or not there are sufficient good drivers in GP2 to warrant the costs of the series.