Will an F2 return ever happen?

[adam46]

After reading this weeks Autosport and seeing the use of F2 cars for the McLaren Autosport Award test, I wonder if those cars will ever be put to use again. They have very prominent F2 markings on the cars, which is the main thing that got me thinking.

Personally, I never thought F2 was a very good F1 feeder series, but I still enjoyed the racing...

Does anyone else think that F2, in it's most recent guise, could make a comeback?

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

No.

However, is there actually a sponsor-related reason to changing F2 into F3000, and then GP2? Formula 2 - the formula below Formula 1 - makes more sense to me...

[andrewc]

Where would it sit in the current pecking order and why would drivers choose it rather than the others?

[NaBUru38]

There's F3, Formula Renault 3.5, GP3 and GP2. I don't think that drivers need another intermediate category.

[kipper]

I don't think F2 will return in a form akin to the model used between 2009 and 2012 for the sub-F1 market is saturated in my view.

I think the reason for the F2 cars being used for the Young Driver tests is a result of MSV's support of the award and the fact that there are enough cars available to run concurrent driver assessments.

It wouldn't surprise me if the cars were to resurface in racing schools or a gentlemen driver series (using the F2 name) as I'd imagine that MSV would prefer to gain some form of return from the cars. As such, they may be some value in keeping the cars and name in some sort of public eye.

[wolfhound]

It seems like Jean Todt would like to see a return of F2 as it got a mention in hise manifesto.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/...thout-fanfare/

[andrewc]

Would be easier just to rebrand GP2 or GP3 F2!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

It seems like Jean Todt would like to see a return of F2 as it got a mention in hise manifesto.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/...thout-fanfare/

I read that too and immediately wondered what and how!

My suspicion is that GP2 will be remodelled in the next year or two and morph into a proper F2....

Or is Renault tire of the 3.5 series and want to pass it on as a going concern, then that would make a pretty strong basis too?

[Beryl]

GP2 is essentially a rebranded F2 and fills that hole in the pecking order (for better or worse), so there is no real reason for another one (again).

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by Beryl

GP2 is essentially a rebranded F2 and fills that hole in the pecking order (for better or worse), so there is no real reason for another one (again).

GP2 is effectively under Bernie's control where as F2 belongs to the FIA.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

GP2 is effectively under Bernie's control where as F2 belongs to the FIA.

Isn't the same supposed to be true of F1, with Bernie dealing with the money side/commercial rights and all that, and the FIA everything else?

[Formulahistory]

Yes, but in 2009 there was a war between FIA and Ecclestone and so FIA created it's own F2 series, now the war is over and F2 is not longer needed.

[jondownunder]

Back to the original question, I know there were some rumours at the time that the Williams F2 car could resurface for a national series in the UK. I assume Jonathan Palmer soon realised there would be no market for such a series.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

And there won't be a market for those cars until they find their way into club racing...

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

And there won't be a market for those cars until they find their way into club racing...

The problem is that the cars don't obviously fit into any existing club category and I can't see the cars being competitive in EuroBOSS (or whatever it is now called) so it would require a new championship to be formed - in addition to finding the required investment to do so. I'd suspect that this could only be along the lines of a beefed up FPA.

[Stephen Green]

I would imagine they may be sold to a ME country as school cars or to form a local series and to replace the old FPA cars that went there.