Luciano Bacheta makes F2 move for 2012

The 21-year-old Briton contested four races in the championship in 2011, having started the year competing for Mucke in GP3. He finished in the points on all four occasions in F2, with a best result of fifth at Monza.

Bacheta, who was nominated for the 2010 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award after finishing runner-up in that year's Formula Renault 2.0 championship, said the lure of a Williams test drive had provided ample incentive to join F2.

"I'm really excited to be driving in Formula 2 this season and to have it all confirmed so early in the year so I can get my head down and focus on the task ahead," Bacheta said.

"Last year I contested four races and enjoyed every one and was impressed with the set up of F2, so it's great to be running a full campaign in 2012.

"My aim is to be at the front and of course I would love to get my hands on the Williams F1 prize test, although I know the competition is going to be tough, especially from returning drivers."

Series director Jonathan Palmer said he expected Bacheta to be a contender for the 2012 title.

"He was instantly a frontrunner when he joined the championship at the end of last year and took little time to adapt to the Williams designed F2 car," Palmer explained. "Luciano will be a major contender for the championship this year."

The series revealed a new spec car for 2012 at this year's AUTOSPORT International Show, and hopes the car, which will run on Yokohama rubber rather than Avon, will be around two seconds per lap faster than its predecessor.