Formula Two

Dean’s target for 2010
“I showed what I am capable of in my first season in Formula Renault, and although I had some bad luck last year I still scored well. I think Andy Soucek showed that if you win F2 you get noticed by some key figures in the sport, and for me Formula Two is the best and quickest way to reach the highest tier of motorsport. The F1 test drive and the award of an FIA Superlicence for the top three are also big attractions, so this year I will be going out all out to try and win the F2 title.”

FIA 2010 Formula Two race summarys.

Source: formulatwo.com

Silverstone Rounds 1 & 2

Race 1: 2nd
Race 2: DNF

Dean Stoneman did much to affirm his status as one of the early season favourites for the title at Silverstone, even if a retirement in race two meant he was unable to score the number of points his pace undoubtedly deserved. The Briton started the weekend well, topping the timesheets in first free practice, and continued to impress by qualifying third for both races. A decent start, despite initially bogging down, allowed him to pass Johan Jokinen at the start of race one, after which he set about pressurising Palmer for the overall lead. A spin at Becketts cost Stoneman his chance of ultimate glory, but he was able to resume in second and impressed by setting his best lap in the closing stages of the race. The Briton was running well again in race two, a good start helping him jump Palmer and claim second, before he retired at the halfway stage. Despite that disappointment Stoneman lies fourth in the overall standings, a position he will be looking to build upon in Marrakech.

Marrakech Rounds 3 & 4

Race 1: 1st
Race 2: 2nd

Stoneman was arguably the fastest driver in the field during the entire Marrakech weekend, as the Briton finished in the top two positions in every session. Although driving on a street circuit for the first time, Stoneman was unfazed by the challenge and was up to speed quicker than any of his rivals on Friday, topping one of the two free practice sessions. A pole position followed in qualifying one and he would line up second on the grid for race two. Despite having his race one lead interrupted by three safety car periods Dean continued to pull away from the pack at every opportunity and he eventually took a commanding victory. Dean bogged down at the start of race two and he briefly dropped to fourth, but he produced a stunning fight back to pass Will Bratt and Johan Jokinen in the early laps. He quickly hunted down race leader Philipp Eng, before launching a race long attack for the win. Stoneman tried everything he could but he had to settle for second as Eng defended in fine style.

Monza Rounds 5 & 6

Race 1: 2nd
Race 2: 4th

Dean Stoneman enjoyed another extremely strong showing at Monza, the Briton again challenging for the lead in race one as he has done in every event so far this season. Stoneman’s challenge was all the more impressive as he came through from eighth on the grid – a storming opening saw him capture four places in the first lap – and although Jolyon Palmer ultimately defended well to take the win, Dean’s haul of 18 points helped him close to within one point of Philipp Eng in the overall standings. Stoneman could then only manage 10th in the second qualifying session, but again showed good pace to come through to 4th at the chequered flag – although he was later reprimanded by the stewards after seemingly outbraking himself and making contact with the rear of Philipp Eng’s car, ultimately putting Eng and Johan Jokinen out of the race. Dean has now scored points in five of the six races this year, and currently sits second in the overall standings, 12 points behind Jolyon Palmer.

Zolder Rounds 7 & 8

Race 1: 1st
Race 2: 3rd

Dean Stoneman enjoyed another extremely strong showing at Zolder, the Briton taking his second win of the year in the opening race before taking third in race two – his haul of 40 points helping him to close to within eight points of Jolyon Palmer in the overall championship. Stoneman looked in fine form throughout the weekend, and took a dominant pole position for race one after topping the timesheets for almost the entire duration of the session. He made a good start to the race to preserve his lead and from there never looked back, even negotiating a safety car period in the middle of the race to eventually win by just over seven seconds. He could only qualify seventh for race two, but another strong start coupled with a combative opening few laps helped him move into fourth. From there he set about attacking Jack Clarke, eventually finding a way past on the second to last lap to secure the final podium position in third. Having taken two wins and three podiums from the last six races, Stoneman will have his sights set firmly on overhauling Palmer in the championship next time out at Portimão.

Algarve Rounds 9 & 10

Race 1: 11th
Race 2: 1st

Stoneman endured a weekend of mixed emotions in Portugal although ultimately he consolidated his second place in the overall standing after a stunning Sunday on the 4.69km circuit. The Southampton driver could only manage ninth in qualifying one and this would lead him into some tense battles as he made his way through the field during race one. His race pace was typically superb and he was in a credible sixth when he was tipped into a spin by Philipp Eng. Dean was left stranded down the order and out of the points, and the duo continued their feud after clashing again on the slowing down lap. Stoneman bounced back in perfect fashion however, after qualifying in third for Sunday’s race. He was promoted to the front row of the grid after a penalty for Eng and Stoneman never looked back after jumping pole-sitter Palmer off the line. Stoneman showed exceptional pace, eventually winning by four seconds, and securing his third win of the season.

Brands Hatch Rounds 11 & 12

Race 1: 1st
Race 2: 3rd (12th with 20 sec penalty)

Stoneman was at his imperious best for much of the weekend at Brands Hatch, the Briton taking a dominant grip in practice before qualifying on pole position for race one, more than four tenths clear of the rest of the field. He duly translated such form into a commanding victory in race one, where he established an early lead and eventually won by over eight seconds, his fastest lap nearly half a second clear of the rest of the field. Dean was caught out by a red flag period in qualifying two, however, which ruined a hot lap on which he had already used all three overboosts. Electing not to go out again when the session restarted, Stoneman could only watch as he slipped to seventh overall. Undeterred, he came through the order in the opening laps and was soon fifth, just behind title rival Jolyon Palmer. On lap four he attempted a pass on the inside at Paddock Hill which ultimately proved optimistic – Stoneman gained the position but forced his rival into the gravel and out of the race, a move that the stewards would later deem illegal. Stoneman went on to finish the race in third and temporarily captured the championship lead, before a 20-second post-race penalty dropped him out of the top ten. Now just five points behind Palmer, Brands Hatch has nevertheless handed Stoneman momentum in the race for the championship, and he will hoping to carry his form into the next round at Brno.

BRNO Rounds 13 & 14

Race 1: 2nd
Race 2: 2nd

Despite never having raced at Brno, Stoneman was at his very best for much of the weekend, recording one of the most dominant performances of any driver this year in second qualifying to seal pole position by more than four tenths of a second. That built upon a narrow pole for race one, taking Dean’s tally to five so far this year. He bogged down slightly at the start of race one however, allowing fellow front-row starter Nicola De Marco to jump him for the lead – Stoneman eventually coming home just three seconds behind the Italian, wresting the championship lead away from Palmer in the process. The two title rivals started alongside each other for race two, and though Stoneman got a great start this time he was again jumped away from the line. He hounded Jolyon for the duration of the race, with the gap less than one second for almost the entire contest, but was not able to mount a full challenge for the lead – Jolyon’s win allowing him to recapture the overall standings lead, just four points clear of Dean. Stoneman will be looking to carry on his fine recent form and overturn that advantage in the next four races, as the title battle looks set to go down to the wire.

Oschersleben Rounds 15 & 16

Race 1: 1st
Race 2: 1st

In what has been already been a magnificent season, Dean Stoneman enjoyed his best weekend of the year at Oschersleben by claiming victory in both races – taking a commanding 31 point lead in the overall championship in the process. Stoneman’s first win was a masterful display of wet weather driving, as the Briton jumped from fifth to first away from the start before relentlessly pulling away from the rest of the field to eventually finish more than 15 seconds clear of Kazim Vasiliauskas – a record margin in F2. He followed that up with his sixth pole of 2010 in tricky conditions in second qualifying, and protected his lead at the start before controlling the race from the front to clinch his sixth win of the year. With just two races and 50 points still on offer, Dean now has a race in hand over title rival Jolyon Palmer, and will be looking to secure the 2010 FIA Formula Two title in style when the series travels to Valencia in less than two weeks time.

Valencia Rounds 17 & 18

Race 1: 9th
Race 2: 3rd

Dean Stoneman, has won the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship