British racer Will Bratt is eyeing a swift return to the top step of the FIA Formula 2 Championship podium next weekend, 23rd/24th July, when the pan-European category makes its second visit of the season to UK shores for rounds nine and 10 at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit.
Heading to the famous Kent track fourth in the driver standings, only two points shy of third place, the 23-year-old from Banbury has delivered a string of superb results over the course of the last two race meetings at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Germany’s Nurburgring – not least his maiden F2 victory during a rain-affected fifth round at Spa.
Getting Will right back into the thick of the championship battle, the last two events have provided a huge boost to his title hopes. As the campaign prepares to enter its second half at Brands Hatch, the Oxon racer has every confidence of challenging for victory once again as he seeks to close the points advantage currently held by Mirko Bortolotti and Christopher Zanella.
“I’m going out there to win at Brands, that’s the sole aim really”, said Will, “We’ve got as good a chance as any of the top guys, we won at Spa and we had the pace to fight for a win at Nurburgring but a couple of issues prevented that. I’m definitely feeling confident, I want to re-assert myself in the championship and try and make sure we take some big points off Bortolotti and Zanella.”
During the corresponding race meeting in 2010, Will’s first season in Formula 2, he enjoyed a strong weekend at Brands Hatch with fourth place in race one and third in the second outing. Prior to last year’s action, his previous visit to the 2.43-mile Grand Prix Circuit came in Formula Renault UK in 2007 where he took his fourth win of that particular campaign en-route to third in the standings.
“I like the track a lot, it’s much better than the Indy Circuit and has a lot of great corners”, said the 2009 Euroseries 3000 Champion, “I always like fast, challenging circuits and that’s what the Grand Prix track offers so I’m looking forward to being back there next weekend.”
Free practice is scheduled for Friday, 22nd July, with round nine qualifying and the first race of the weekend following on Saturday, 23rd July, at 10.20 and 13.50 respectively. The round 10 qualifying session will take place on Sunday, 24th July, at 10.00 with race two getting underway at 14.35.
All of the race action will be screened live in the UK and across Europe on digital satellite and cable channel Motors TV – please check listings for further information – with the addition of live online streaming at www.formulatwo.com
Provisional 2011 FIA Formula 2 Championship Standings (after Rd8):
1st Mirko Bortolotti, 159pts; 4th Will Bratt, 92pts