MALVERN &
SLAGHEKKE TO MAKE F2 TEST DEBUT
- Barcelona test
for Formula Ford Champion and runner-up
- Malvern hopes it
will prove a 'springboard' to full-time F2 drive
9 December, 2011
- Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Champion of Great Britain Scott Malvern
and runner-up Jeroen Slaghekke will make their Formula Two debuts
next week after being awarded a prize test to take part in a
two-day session in Barcelona.
Two-time McLaren
Autosport BRDC Award finalist Malvern claimed this year's
prestigious Dunlop MSA Formula Ford title by winning a record 18
of the 24 rounds - 13 of them consecutively. Nineteen-year-old
Dutchman Slaghekke secured championship second with three wins and
a further 12 podiums.
Both will join a
host of international drivers for the test at the Circuit de
Catalunya on 13/14 December. Malvern in particular is keen to step
up full time to the series in 2012: "I'm looking to make the
jump up to a higher category and F2 offers that at great value for
money, together with racing on Grand Prix circuits and ensuring
everyone has the same chance.
"If I were to
race it would be a two-year campaign as F2 is very competitive.
This test is certainly a great prize to be awarded, especially
with F2 fast becoming a recognised route on the motorsport ladder,
and I'm hoping to use it as a springboard to F2 next year."
The 22-year-old
recently sampled the 500bhp JPH1B car during the driver assessment
process for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, and was impressed:
"It's a very good car that has been well designed and thought
out. I'm looking forward to the test and to get some good mileage,
as although I've sampled it before that was very stop/start."
Slaghekke said:
"I'm definitely looking forward to the test. The F2 car is a
lot more powerful with a big speed difference to the Formula Ford
so it will be a new experience for me and on a new track. We'll
have to see how it goes but F2 could be a possible option for a
future season."
Dunlop MSA Formula
Ford Championship co-ordinator Penny Mattocks added: "Scott
Malvern and Jeroen Slaghekke will get to enjoy a very special test
and one we're confident will enrich their future choices in
motorsport, and help give recognition to their promising racing
careers."
This year Malvern
also completed a dominant victory in the legendary Formula Ford
Festival at Brands Hatch, with his name added to a prestigious
list of previous Festival winners, including Formula 1 stars
Johnny Herbert, Mark Webber and 2009 World Champion Jenson Button.
He also won the Formula Ford EuroCup titles at each of the four
meetings at Brands Hatch, Spa, Zolder and Zandvoort.
Full coverage of
the Barcelona test will be available at www.formulatwo.com
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