Editing Formula Two (section)

=== 1.6-litre era and driver grading (1967–1971) ===
For 1967, the [[FIA]] increased the maximum engine capacity to 1600cc.<ref>[http://www.oldracingcars.com/f2/ Formula 2 (1967–1984)] Retrieved from www.oldracingcars.com on 1 February 2011</ref> With the "return to power" of Formula One the gap between Formula One and Formula Two was felt to be too wide, and the introduction of new 1600cc production-based engine regulations for Formula Two restored the category to its intended role as a feeder series for Formula One. The [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] also introduced the [[European Formula Two Championship]] in 1967. Ickx, driving a [[Equipe Matra Sports|Matra]] MS5, won the inaugural championship by 11 points from the Australian, [[Frank Gardner (driver)|Frank Gardner]].

The most popular 1600cc engine was the [[Cosworth]] FVA, the sixteen-valve head on a four-cylinder [[Ford Cortina|Cortina]] block that was effectively the "proof of concept" for the legendary DFV. The 1967 FVA gave {{convert|220|bhp|kW PS|abbr=on}} at 9000 rpm. Other units also appeared, including a four-cylinder [[BMW]] and a V6 [[Ferrari Dino engine|Dino]] [[Ferrari]].

Nevertheless, many Formula One drivers continued to drive the smaller and lighter cars on non-championship weekends, and some Grand Prix grids (notably in Germany, where the long circuit at the [[Nürburgring]] could cope with large entries) would be a mix of Formula One and Formula Two cars. [[Jacky Ickx]] made his Grand Prix debut at the Nürburgring in a Formula Two car in 1966. The following year Ickx qualified with the third fastest time overall but was forced to start behind the slower Formula One cars. Ickx quickly forced his way back into a points position, only to be forced to retire with broken suspension. [[Jim Clark]], regarded as one of the greatest race drivers of all time, was killed in a Formula Two race early in 1968, at the [[Hockenheimring]]. A year later [[Gerhard Mitter]] was killed at the Nürburgring while practising for the [[1969 German Grand Prix]] in a Formula Two car.

The "invasion" of Formula One drivers in Formula Two ranks (a situation similar to that of [[Buschwhacker|buschwhacking]] in modern-day [[NASCAR]]) was permitted because of the unique grading system used. Any driver with an ''A'' grading was not permitted to score championship points. A driver gained an ''A'' rating via various means which changed somewhat over the years, such as finishing in the points in two Grand Prix events or the top three in two [[World Sports Car]] events. The annual Formula Two champion was also granted an ''A'' rating for one year, and a Formula One World Champion was ''A'' graded for five. This system permitted less experienced drivers to work towards the championship and forward their careers, while allowing senior drivers to keep their hand in during the long breaks between Grands Prix of the time.

In the early years of the 1600cc formula, Brabham and Lotus were the most numerous constructors, although Ferrari intermittently entered a works team, as did BMW (with [[Lola Cars|Lola]] and [[Dornier Flugzeugwerke|Dornier]]-built chassis). A number of smaller constructors such as Matra and Tecno were successful. [[Chevron Cars Ltd|Chevron]] also provided cars. The French firm Matra won the three first editions of the European championship, with Tecno winning the fourth.

[[File:Peter scharmann formel2 1978.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Peter Scharmann]]'s 1978 [[March Engineering|March]]–[[BMW]]]]