The 2009 Formula 2 review

Round 1 Valencia, May 30-31

Wickens dominated the opening round, winning both races easily. He was chased briefly by Andy Soucek in the first race, but he had broken away before Soucek's car failed and robbed him of second place. That handed second to Carlos Iaconelli and third to Kazim Vasiliauskas.

In race two, a poor start prevented Soucek from giving chase to Wickens. Mirko Bortolotti gave chase to the leader for a while but subsided as the race wore on, leaving Wickens to complete a dominant double. Philipp Eng held Soucek off all race to claim the final podium spot.

Round 2 Brno, June 20-21

Nicola de Marco and Henry Surtees took the pole positions at Brno, but neither actually started their races from the front. De Marco broke down before the start, effectively giving pole to Bortolotti - who won comfortably after a brief challenge from Mikhail Aleshin.

Soucek scored his first win of the year from sixth on the grid on the Sunday after neither Surtees nor Aleshin moved from the front row at the start. De Marco led the first half of the race but spun out of the lead and had to settle for third behind Soucek and Jousse.

Wickens' championship advantage took a bashing as he was involved in an accident at the start of race one with Surtees and Clarke, and was later eliminated in a seven-car incident at Turn 2 on lap one of race two.

Round 3 Spa, June 27-28

Tobias Hegewald put his extensive Spa experience to good use to claim two pole positions and then turn them both into dominant victories. Soucek had no answer in second, and was later demoted to fourth after cutting a chicane and delaying Jousse. But he still took the championship lead as Wickens was slow away and then taken out for the third race in a row.

Hegewald walked race two as well with Soucek again unable to touch him in second. Wickens recovered with third place, but couldn't threaten Soucek for second.

Round 4 Brands Hatch, July 18-19

Eng took his first pole with just 0.017s covering him, Soucek and Sebastian Hohenthal. The Austrian converted it into his first victory after soaking up relentless pressure from Soucek throughout the race. Vasiliauskas ran wide at Paddock Hill Bend on a restart, allowing Surtees to nick third and Wickens fourth.

Soucek conquered the rain, several red flag stoppages and his car briefly failing to fire for a restart to beat Wickens to victory in race two. But the event was overshadowed by Henry Surtees' fatal accident in the second race when he was struck by a flying wheel from the crashed car of Jack Clarke.

Round 5 Donington Park, August 16

Hegewald took the race one pole but Soucek charged into the lead at the first corner - from third on the grid - and never looked back. Aleshin was 10 seconds adrift in second, while Milos Pavlovic lost third late on when his car broke, giving the place back to Hegewald.

Jousse produced probably the most dominant display of the entire season by streaking 15 seconds clear of Vasiliauskas to claim his maiden victory in race two.

Soucek was a live wire, despite holding a healthy championship lead with Wickens posting a double retirement, passing Hohenthal around the outside at the Craner's for fourth and then hounding Bortolotti - unsuccessfully - for third.

Round 6 Oschersleben, September 5-6

Soucek took pole by a mile then strolled to victory in race one - all but clinching the championship. Bortolotti and Vasiliauskas completed the podium after Wickens was punted out by Hegewald and took Jousse and Pavlovic with him.

Aleshin took his first pole in a drying qualifying session for race two, then converted into a first win despite race-long pressure from Soucek in second. Jousse had led briefly at the first corner but was passed by both Aleshin and Soucek in one move.

Wickens was adrift in fourth and his title hopes were all but over. Meanwhile, Eng had a massive rolling crash after banging wheels with Clarke.

Round 7 Imola, September 19-20

Vasiliauskas became the first Lithuanian to win a major international race with a dominant drive from pole in race one. Bortolotti was second but pushed all the way to the flag by Soucek, whose charge from sixth to third - including a pass on Wickens - was enough to seal the title.

Soucek celebrated the title by storming to victory in race two. From third on the grid he charged past Bortolotti and pole-sitter Wickens to lead before the first corner. He eased it from there with Pavlovic taking third after Bortolotti's engine let go.

Round 8 Barcelona, October 31-November 1

Wickens took both poles for the season finale but it was Soucek who won both races to finish off his season in style on home soil.

Wickens made a slow start in race one and pulled into retirement shortly afterwards, leaving Soucek to win from Aleshin and debutant Tristan Vautier.

Soucek once again led into the first corner in the final race, taking De Marco past Wickens too. The champion pulled well clear for win number seven, with Wickens and Vasiliauskas shadowing De Marco to the flag.