Valencia: Will Bratt preview

CAN BRATT TAKE ELUSIVE F2 WIN DURING SEASON FINALE?

Valencia's Ricardo Tormo Circuit hosts the finale of the FIA Formula 2 Championship next weekend, 18th/19th September, and while Will Bratt is aiming to conclude the year inside the coveted top three in the driver standings, his chief goal is to fight for the race win which has eluded him thus far.

Running at the front throughout his maiden season of F2 competition, the 22-year-old British racer has enjoyed podium success on three occasions. On his return to Spain though for rounds 17 and 18, he's hungrier than ever to push for that first Formula 2 victory.

During his championship winning Euroseries 3000 campaign last year, Will won two of the three races staged in Valencia so therefore has very fond memories of the 2.5-mile track. Qualifying will be all important for the Banbury driver, something which hasn't always gone as well as he has wanted this year, but if the car delivers the performance he needs, Will has what it takes to be at the front.

"We have to be aiming for wins in Valencia", said Will, "It's been quite a frustrating season so I want to end the year showing precisely what we can do. My aim all season has been to be on the podium at each event but, for a variety of reasons, it hasn't worked out that way. Qualifying has been our main issue this year, for whatever reason we've struggled to put a quick lap together.

"Our race pace has been good but we've started the races from too far back and have then been caught up in other people's incidents a few times too. It's disappointing not to be in the fight for the title, especially after such a successful year in 2009 in the bigger F3000 car, but the championship top three is still achievable so I'm going all out to secure that."

Heading into the last two races of the season, the fight over third place in the standings couldn't be closer with just 13 points separating the five contenders -- Russia's Sergei Afanasiev, Austrian Philipp Eng, Lithuanian Kazim Vasiliauskas, Belgium's Benjamin Bailly and, of course, Will himself.

Two free practice sessions at Valencia will be held on Friday, 17th September, with qualifying for round 17 and the race itself taking place on Saturday, 18th September, at 09.45 (local time) and 13.30 respectively. Qualifying for round 18 is then timetabled for 09.00 on Sunday, 19th September, with the final race getting underway at around 14.00.

All the race action is expected to be screened live in the UK on digital satellite and cable channel British Eurosport while live streaming will be carried at the official F2 website www.formulatwo.com

2010 FIA Formula 2 Championship Driver Standings (after Rd16): 1st Dean Stoneman, 267pts; 6th Will Bratt, 126pts

-source: willbratt.com