FIA Formula Two Championship (2009–2012)

{{Short description|Single-Seater Racing Championship}}

{{see also|Formula Two|FIA Formula 2 Championship|GP2 Series}}

{{Infobox motorsport championship

|logo = FIA Formula Two Championship (2009-2012) logo.png

|pixels =

|caption =

|category = Single seater

|region = Europe

|inaugural2 = 2009

|folded = 2012

|drivers = 30

|constructors = Williams Grand Prix Engineering,{{cite web|title=(F2) Chassis development continues at Williams F1|url=http://www.formulatwo.com/news/f2-chassis-continues-to-take-shape.aspx|publisher=MotorSport Vision|work=FormulaTwo.com|date=2008-12-02|access-date=2010-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302093539/http://www.formulatwo.com/news/f2-chassis-continues-to-take-shape.aspx|archive-date=2009-03-02|url-status=dead}}
operated by MotorSport Vision

|engines = Audi 1.8-litre 20v Turbo

|tyres = Yokohama{{cite news|url=http://www.formulatwo.com/news/further-details-on-2012-f2-car.aspx|title=F2 chooses Yokohama tyres for new two-seconds-faster car|date=12 January 2012|work=FIA Formula Two Championship|publisher=MotorSport Vision|access-date=12 January 2012}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

|champion driver = {{flagicon|GBR}} Luciano Bacheta

|website = [https://www.fiaformula2.com/ fiaformula2.com]

}}

The FIA Formula Two Championship was a one-make class of auto racing for Formula Two open wheeled single seater racing cars. The championship was contested each year from 2009 to 2012. It was a revival of the former European Formula Two Championship that was previously run from 1967 to 1984. Organised by MotorSport Vision, drivers competed over 16 rounds at eight venues, in identical cars built by Williams Grand Prix Engineering, with 480 bhp engines developed by Mountune Racing and supplied by Audi.

Formula Two was revived due to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's concern that the cost of competing in motor racing at a level to progress directly to Formula One was becoming unreachable for many participants, and the category was re-introduced as a lower-cost alternative for drivers.{{cite news|title=FIA picks Palmer as F2 supplier|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20779.html|publisher=Inside F1, Inc.|work=GrandPrix.com|date=2008-09-15|access-date=2010-01-06}}{{cite news|title=FIA invites tenders for F2|url=http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=35382|publisher=Pitpass|work=Pitpass.com|date=2008-07-13|access-date=2010-01-06}}{{cite news|title=FIA to relaunch F2 in 2009 |url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/wmsc/wmsc08/Pages/wmsc_250608.aspx |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |work=FIA.com |date=2008-06-25 |access-date=2010-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102071546/http://fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/wmsc/wmsc08/Pages/wmsc_250608.aspx |archive-date=2010-01-02 }} The FIA tender to supply and operate the Championship was awarded to the British MotorSportVision Racing company, owned by former Formula One racer Jonathan Palmer.{{cite news|title=Palmer's MSV wins F2 contract |url=http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=43986 |publisher=ITV Sport |work=ITV-F1.com |date=2008-09-15 |access-date=2010-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724155452/http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=43986 |archive-date=2009-07-24 }}{{cite news|title=MSV wins FIA Formula Two Championship Tender|url=http://www.formulatwo.com/news/archive/2008/sep/msv-win-fia-f2-tender.aspx|publisher=MotorSport Vision|work=FormulaTwo.com|date=2008-09-29|access-date=2010-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530053409/http://www.formulatwo.com/news/archive/2008/sep/msv-win-fia-f2-tender.aspx|archive-date=2009-05-30|url-status=dead}}

Compared to rival series such as GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5, Formula Two cost significantly less per season whilst allowing drivers to prove their skill and develop their racecraft, in identical vehicles designed by a six-man team from Williams Grand Prix Engineering, led by Director of Engineering Patrick Head.{{cite news|title=Jonathan Palmer unveils Formula Two plans|url=http://www.formulatwo.com/news/f2-briefing-jp-speech.aspx|publisher=MotorSport Vision|work=FormulaTwo.com|date=2008-10-02|access-date=2010-01-07|archive-date=2012-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328113035/http://www.formulatwo.com/news/f2-briefing-jp-speech.aspx|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Patrick Head relishes the 'engineering challenge' of F2|url=http://www.formulatwo.com/news/patrick-head-relishes-the-challenge.aspx|publisher=MotorSport Vision|work=FormulaTwo.com|date=2009-01-23|access-date=2010-01-07|archive-date=2012-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328113039/http://www.formulatwo.com/news/patrick-head-relishes-the-challenge.aspx|url-status=dead}} The F2 vehicles were assembled and prepared between races at MotorSport Vision's Bedford Autodrome facility, prior to each championship event.

In December 2012, MotorSport Vision announced that the series would not be run in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104751 |title=MotorSport Vision cancels Formula 2 championship |last1=Elizalde |first1=Pablo|date=6 December 2012 |work=Autosport|access-date=9 February 2013}}