Joshua Dürksen has highlighted how valuable having drivers such as Colton Herta and Nico Varrone transition from other series to F2.
The Mercedes academy driver pointed out how it provides a "straight comparison between Formula 2 and different categories", such as IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The F1 support series has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years, something that has been further exacerbated by the nine-time IndyCar winner leaving the American series in pursuit of a future in Formula 1.
Speaking to TalkSport, Dürksen underlined the contribution of experienced drivers in showcasing the ability of those racing in the junior category.
"It has been growing a lot, for sure," the Invicta driver said. "I mean, imagine now Colton Herta leaving IndyCar to come to F2 [and the impact that has had].
"Then there are other drivers, like Nico Varrone, who left WEC to come to F2, so it's getting more international.
"I really like this, because you can get a straight comparison between Formula 2 and different categories, and see actually how competitive Formula 2 is.
"Of course, it's the junior ladder going to F1, but the drivers that drive in F2 are so good already and so precise and are so strong, that I think it surprised many people, and I really love that Formula 2 is getting more popular, because the races are also super nice, super entertaining."
The Paraguayan driver, who sits seventh in the F2 standings after winning the sprint at the season curtain raiser in Melbourne, further praised the quality of racing at that level, something that was illustrated by Herta and Varrone's opening round of the campaign.
The former scored decent points for Hitech in the feature race with a seventh-place finish, but the latter went scoreless on a difficult weekend.
"We're one step from F1, everybody that's driving there, we're trying to reach F1, and for sure, we're going to give everything possible to have that chance," Dürksen said.
"That means risking, that means making very hard overtakes, defending very hard, fighting very hard. So, for sure, the racing is great."
Originally published by RacingNews365 —
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