Formula Two news

Surtees goes fastest in final pre-season test

Henry Surtees set the quickest lap time in the final pre-season test for the FIA Formula Two Championship in mixed weather conditions at Silverstone today (Monday). The 18-year-old's flying lap of 1:38.920s was set as the grouped sessions came to a close early in the afternoon, shortly before heavy rain brought an end to anyone's hopes of going any faster for the remainder of the day.

Red Bull junior driver Mikhail Aleshin held top spot for much of the late morning, but was pushed down to second following Surtees' lap. Julien Jousse also grew in confidence with the car as the day progressed and the Frenchman was satisfied with third fastest overall.

Sebastian Hohenthal had an impressive run to fourth, whilst Rob Wickens, Jolyon Palmer and Andy Soucek were separated by just 0.088s in fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. Jack Clarke maintained eighth position at the session's end, whilst Philipp Eng and Carlos Iaconelli made a late surge into the top ten.

Times were expected to tumble later in the afternoon as drivers got to use new Avon tyres and the 'overboost' button for the first time. However, the heavy rain in Northamptonshire prevented drivers from finding the ultimate limits in their respective Williams JPH1, but it did provide them with some valuable running in wet conditions.

The F2 cars ran with bespoke rain tyres for the first time and an interesting battle developed as drivers swapped fastest times in the testing conditions. Mirko Bortolotti's benchmark time of 2:02.974s looked set to be good enough until Andy Soucek and Jason Moore traded blows towards the end of the day. It was Soucek who ultimately set the afternoon's fastest lap - a 2:02.502s, which was just 0.008s ahead of Formula Palmer Audi champion Moore.

Mirko Bortolotti held on to third, whilst Milos Pavlovic, Julien Jousse and Philipp Eng rounded out the top six.

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