Upgraded F2 car makes huge gains in pace

Williams JPH1B beats Formula Renault 3.5 pole time in Portimao

04/02/2010 - The upgraded Williams JPH1B has enjoyed a hugely impressive track debut during pre-season testing, with the car proving to be significantly faster than its 2009 predecessor.

2009 FIA Formula Two Champion Andy Soucek and Official Test Driver Steven Kane assumed driving duties in separate test cars as the JPH1B first took to the circuit at Barcelona on 28 January, before moving to Portimo on 2 February. The upgrade package yielded similarly impressive gains at both venues, with Soucek's laptime of a 1:33.280s in Portugal eclipsing the corresponding 2009 pole time for Formula Renault 3.5.

Such significant improvements are the result of an extensive upgrade package implemented over the winter by both MotorSport Vision and the Williams F1 team. Among the new features, the car has benefited from a package of aerodynamic revisions following an extensive CFD evaluation programme by the Williams team, increasing maximum downforce by 30% and improving aerodynamic efficiency by 24%.

Despite low temperatures and grip levels, the revisions yielded instant and sizeable gains when the two cars first took to the track in Barcelona last week. Soucek was able to set a personal best of 1:35.770s - which compares with his best effort of 1:38.163 when F2 visited the circuit in 2009.

The operation then moved to Portimao, Portugal, where the team continued to make significant advances whilst also gathering further valuable information about the new upgrades. Having tested at the circuit in late 2009, Soucek again made substantial improvements, posting a best effort of 1:33.280s - almost three tenths faster than the 2009 pole time for Formula Renault 3.5.

Formula Two series director Jonathan Palmer hailed the significant advances the team had made during pre-season testing, saying: "The 2010 F2 package of upgrades is the result of many months' careful work, particularly aerodynamic modelling with the CFD programme. Patrick Head and the Williams F1 personnel working on F2 have done a great job to substantially hike the performance of the F2 car for 2010.

"It was very encouraging to see such instant pace improvement on the opening day of our test programme at Barcelona. To be 2.4 seconds faster than our fastest pole position time so soon and in less than optimal conditions was pretty impressive."

2009 F2 Champion Andy Soucek was similarly enthusiastic, saying: "We've made some massive improvements to the F2 car. When you have more power, less weight and better aerodynamics then the car is always going to be better, but to be so much quicker straight away was really impressive. Overall the car feels similar to drive to last year's but you can really feel the effect of the aerodynamic improvements and the extra grip they bring"

To see the latest news and developments from the FIA Formula Two Championship - including photos of the new Williams JPH1B F2 car in action - visit the official F2 website by clicking the link below.