UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Andy Soucek wins F2 title

Wins Williams test drive

Andy Soucek clinched the 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship on Saturday, becoming the first F2 champion for 25 years.

The Spaniard moved into an unassailable lead after he passed both Mikhail Aleshin and Robert Wickens during the opening race here in Imola. Soucek took third place at the finish - his eighth podium of the season, which was enough to seal the title crown with three races still remaining.

"As you can imagine I feel fantastic," said Soucek. "It was an amazing race - I think it was the best so far. I think you have to know how to win a race starting from pole, but I think you also have to know how to climb your way up starting from further back. That's what I did today - I think I have had a very good championship and I have to be very proud of it."

Starting from sixth on the grid, Soucek got by a slow starting Aleshin off the line and he soon passed Philipp Eng to move into fourth. Late in the race, Soucek made an outstanding pass on Wickens to complete a dream day.

"It was not looking like the best day because I was starting sixth on the grid," commented Andy. "I made a pretty good start, there was a bit of a mess on the first corner which I managed to escape. Then I overtook Eng on the outside which was a bit of a difficult move, and then actually it was all about the rhythm.

"I thought I still had to pass Aleshin but at the end of the race I was told I was challenging Wickens, so I actually risked a bit too much! I wanted to win the championship with a podium at least. I wanted to win it with a victory but still I am happy to have finished third."

Soucek's four race wins so far have been a testament to his ability over the course of the season, and now the 24-year-old will get the chance to test in a Williams Formula One car: "I still can't believe it," he said. "The test with Williams is a real chance for me to get into Formula One. It's going to be my second F1 drive, but it will be a new experience for me: it will be with slicks, and it will be with Williams who have had a good year. Hopefully I will have a very good test - I'm going to prepare myself physically as good as I can and if it goes well we will see what happens next year."

Written: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:14:35