DEAN Stoneman sealed the Formula 2 Championship and moved a step closer to achieving his Formula 1 “dream.”

Stoneman’s prize for winning the F2 title is a test drive with the Williams Formula One team after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November.

But he promised to treat the F1 test the same as any other drive in his career, saying: “I’m just going to get in the car and drive as fast as I can!”

A ninth placed finish in the opening race of the Championship’s final round in Valencia was enough to clinch the 2010 crown for the Bishops Waltham-based 20 year-old.

Stoneman went into the weekend’s first race with a 31-point lead over his nearest challenger Jolyon Palmer.

The pair were 11th and seventh on the grid respectively after qualifying for the first race with Palmer needing to finish four places ahead of Stoneman to take the championship down to the wire.

But Stoneman made up two places on the opening lap to finish ninth, two places behind Palmer, which gave him an unassailable 27-point lead going into the final race.

Reflecting on his title win, Stoneman said: “It’s only just starting to settle in.

“Getting into Formula One has always been my dream, and this just brings me one step closer.

"It’s hard to know what to expect but it’s obviously a fantastic opportunity to be testing a Williams Formula One car, so hopefully I can prove myself.

“I’m just going to go there and do what I do best: drive as fast as I can!”

Stoneman was relieved to have the title was in the bag before Sunday’s second race and season finale.

“It was a fantastic to be in this position,” he admitted.

And he rounded of his debut F2 campaign with a third-place finish – his 13th podium this year - and ended the season 42 points clear of Palmer.

“I didn’t expect to win it in my first year, but to be walking away with the championship is great,” he continued.

“F2 is the highest class of car I’ve ever raced and this is the highest ranking I’ve ever been.”

Cool customer Stoneman added: “Throughout the season the pressure hasn’t really bothered me at all.

“However, sometimes you have to let your emotions out and today’s the day."

F2 series director Jonathan Palmer – a former F1 and F2 champion and dad of Stoneman’s championship rival Jolyon – was full of praise for the Southampton driver.

“Dean has done a superb job this season and is certainly the worthy champion of the 2010 FIA F2 championship," he said.

“He is an outstanding talent, being extremely quick, a tough fighter, and very consistent.

“I am very confident Dean will prove the high standard of competition in F2 by performing impressively when he has his Williams F1 test drive.”