The FIA Formula 2 Championship – grooming ground for future Formula 1 drivers – launched their new Formula 2 car, the F2 2018, which was released for the start of the 2018 season. Once again, Hewland is proud to be supplying the 6-speed longitudinal gearbox for the car which is powered by a V6 3.4 litre turbo-charged Mecachrome engine delivering 620 HP at 8,750 rpm.

The F2 2018 has been designed to look similar to the new generation of F1 cars including a halo to the new car for additional driver protection.

The wider and aggressive bodywork styling – with the chassis again produced by Dallara – means the car is 159mm longer than its predecessor, as well as being 32kg heavier (including a driver). Its width, 1900mm, is unchanged from the previous car.

The F2 2018 retained a number of mechanical parts from the GP2/11, including the majority of the gearbox, brake system and some suspension components. Formula 2 series boss Bruno Michel explained in this article in Autosport, “We want to make sure that the teams not spending too much money, [so] we are trying to make as many common parts as possible from the old car to the new car to make sure that they can keep the spare parts,” he told Autosport.

“Mainly the (Hewland) gearbox – it’s not going to change, maybe one part – but the rest is going to be exactly the same.”

Hewland provided a similar gearbox to the previous two generations of Formula 2 (GP2) cars, the GP2/11 and the GP2/08 as well as supplying the series predecessor, Formula 3000. Being selected for the third generation of Formula 2 is not only testament to the performance of the Hewland product but demonstrates its cost effectiveness as well.

Hewland provides control-component gearboxes to several other race series including FIA Formula 3, DTM and several teams in Formula E.

Hewland Gearbox LFSC-200 - F2 gearbox

Compact Mecachrome V6 Turbo and Hewland 6-speed sequential gearbox combination

Rear View of F2

The rear wing, diffuser and rear suspension mount directly to the Hewland gearbox