Formula 2 to compete with GP2

[WhiteBlue]

Formula two to compete GP2 ?
At today's world motorsport council, the FIA have decided they wish to push forward with a still to be introduced racing formula, named Formula Two. The new series is supposed to provide an easy way for drivers or team personnel to eventually find their way to Formula One.

The statement said: "The FIA will invite tenders for a new feeder series for Formula One. This championship, called Formula Two, would be launched in 2009 and used as an inexpensive platform to develop emerging driver talent for Formula One. It is hoped this can be achieved within a budget of around €200,000 a car per season."

As it is currently coming together, the series will likely rival the current GP2 series, a modern variant of the late F3000. Since its inauguration, helped by Briatore for instance, all winners, including Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Nelson Piquet have found their way to Formula One.

This isn't simply another fighting front against FOM. There are some far reaching possibilities in it.

GP2 is powered by Renault. A new F2 series could be tendered. It could even simply adopt the A1GP Ferrari spec.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NngosG4s0w&feature=user[/youtube]

Unless one uses an existing spec it is difficult to see how the series can start in the 2009 season.

F2 can be made mandatory for F1 Superlicense and GP2 would be instantly dead.

F2 can be set up with a promotion/relegation scheme to open up the access to F1. The cost control depends of the exclusive status of F1 teams under the concord. This can be changed by a relegation scheme.

[Tom Castellani]

It would be an interesting series to keep an eye on I suppose and at the same time turn A1GP into a bigger feeder. I don't like the idea of it competing with GP2 though, which was formerly F3000 and Formula 2 before that.

If it does kill GP2 then Formula Renault could also lose credibility as currently they have pretty much the whole ladder.

[WhiteBlue]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20510.html

good read

[nae]

posturing at the moment

unless there is a decent car already built and will to step into max's fold
i cant see a new car for the proposed series being designed and built in time
for april / may next year

[WhiteBlue]

posturing at the moment

unless there is a decent car already built and will to step into max's fold
i cant see a new car for the proposed series being designed and built in time
for april / may next year

So you do not think the A1GP car will do?

And how about the current Dallara/Renault design. As soon as they have to compete to survive their price tag will go down to 30% of what they charge now.

I would not exclude Cosworth with a competent chassis designer. They have stuff on the shelve. So things could be cobbled together rather quickly. But A1GP and GP2 suppliers should be in pole position.

[CMSMJ1]

it is a curveball for sure.

I could see the A1GP cars being offered for the new series but I would expect Tony Texeira to have a solid contract for the exclkusive use of the design.

The costs of the new series are pure fantasy though - if a superlicence costs a couple of hundred thousand dollars then how do they expect a team to run a full season on two hundred thousand?

This was the proposed savings from banign tyrewarmers in F1...small change.

lets see what the enxt few weeks brings.

also - is it FOM that has the track contracts? if FOM and Bernie change F1 into GP1 then they are a step ahead of the game...

[nae]

are A1GP cars not going to be ferrari powered next year

not that makes a differance but its hardly going to make the FIA look independent if they are
not that max cares of course

its still posturing in my view and will be a very weak series with only 8 months or so preparation

unless he is hoping to take the gp2 teams to him, i cant see many national racing teams or even internationals ones willing to risk it in a power play between bernie and max

I of course dont know nothing and am just enjoying a little arm chair speculation

[Conceptual]

Hell,

If F2 were to come about with the MP4-22 chassis as the spec car, and able to be run on a 200k budget, I might be interested in starting a team!

Unfortunately, I couldnt pay them, and they would have to walk to races because the cost of Diesel for the trucks would be more than 200K in itself.

Talk of an international series operating for under $250k is purely false.

Now if all of the races were in Germany, France, Belgium, Spain and England you could probably do it for 1 million, but 250k for an entire operation for a year? What, the cars are provided for free, delivered to the track, and you only pay your team members 2k/yr and drive the car yourself? Is Shell going to donate the fuel? Bridgestone the tyres?

$250k/yr is a pipe dream unless there is sponsor placement that adds another $750k/yr.

Does anyone else think that this number is rediculously LOW for an international series that runs something more complex than a go-kart?

Chris

[nae]

apparently there are karting teams that spend that much for a Euro series

[Conceptual]

apparently there are karting teams that spend that much for a Euro series

Then doesnt that make the $250k/yr number rediculously low for a Formula team?

Chris

[WhiteBlue]

The text is vague and you usually do not open negotiations with a high figure. I agree that it will cost more eventually. but they may want to signal that pricing will be the decider in the tender.

[mx_tifoso]

2009 F2

-Williams-built chassis
-Audi enginess
-Avon tyres.

[axle]

The great thing about F2 is that it's not about teams, the cars are prepped to be the same by MotorSport Vision mechanics. It's then all down to the drivers...

That's why it's cheap and all about talant.

F2 racer designed by Williams F1
Engine by Audi
Winner gets a run in a Williams F1.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73506
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73503
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73508

[ISLAMATRON]

love the concept.... this is everything GP2 should have been... hopefully they can still shape up their act.

Hope this is still around when my son is ready to go racing.

[RacingManiac]

so whats different for this in terms of the order of the openwheel ladder compare to the old Formula Palmer Audi series? The only thing I see is the names attached to "F2" and perhaps a bit more publicity compare to before, and that you win a test with a F1 team(you also get that from winning Formula BMW, which is significantly less potent cars). It makes sense for Williams as it gives them more revenue, but on openwheel racing scale as a whole it seems pretty status quo to me....