F2 News

Bjorn Wirdheim finished second to Ricardo Sperafico at Hockenheim, knowing that it was good enough for him to sew up Arden International's first FIA F3000 drivers' title.

After a topsy-turvy two weeks, Phil Giebler and the Den Bla Avis F3000 team found themselves at Silverstone as spectators rather than competitors.

After the pause in the schedule due to Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA F3000 circus returns to action at the N?rburgring this weekend, with Coloni Motorsport looking to return to the front of the field after a difficult Monaco round.

Irish Michael Keohane may yet contest a round of this year's FIA International F3000 Championship following a successful test at Spa-Francorchamps with Team Astromega yesterday [Tuesday].

Having opted to stand down from his Promatecme Formula Three ride ahead of last weekend's Castle Combe double-header, Irish driver Michael Keohane has revealed that he will drive an F3000 car for the first time tomorrow [Tuesday].

FIA F3000 points leader Bjorn Wirdheim made a mistake in Monaco that will surely be a feature of sports quiz shows for years to come, but the tall Swede insists that he had seen the chequered flag before slowing down to acknowledge his 'victorious' Arden International team.

Bjorn Wirdheim's two closest championship challengers missed out on an opportunity to keep touch with the Swede after effectively taking each other out of the Monaco round of the FIA F3000 Championship.

American Phil Giebler replaced Robbie Kerr in the second Den Bla Avis car for round two of the FIA F3000 Championship at the Circuit de Catalunya and, having never driven an F3000 car before, impressed onlookers with his immediate pace.

Martin Kendrick, team principal of FIA F3000 Championship newcomers Brand Motorsports, has today announced that the team will not participate in the remainder of the season, claiming that the motorsport environment was not right for the team to continue operating in.

Complete times following the FIA F3000 test at Barcelona. Leading times (11 April) - Barcelona:

Despite the absence of an official press release, FIA F3000 newcomers Brand Motorsports has confirmed that it will be fielding Gary Paffett and Nicolas Minassian in its debut season.

Patrick Friesacher underlined both his, and Coloni's, potential for success in 2003 by topping the times on day two of the official FIA-sanctioned F3000 test at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola.

Team Astromega boss Mikke Van Hool is thought to be considering quitting the FIA F3000 Championship after claiming that rival competitions offer better value for money than the official grand prix support series.

Following news that his proposed CART deal has now fallen through, Giorgio Pantano is rumoured to be considering a possible return to the FIA F3000 Championship he narrowly missed winning in 2002.

Far from disappearing from the FIA F3000 series, Red Bull will remain prominent in 2003, following the news that promising youngsters Vitantonio Liuzzi and Patrick Friesacher will campaign the distinctive blue-and-silver colours on their Coloni-entered Lolas.

New-for-2003 FIA F3000 team BCN Competicion could field an all-Spanish line-up in its debut season, according to sources in its homeland.

Arden International has revealed that it has secured the services of leading F3000 engineer Rob Creswell ahead of its teams' title defence in the FIA Formula 3000 Championship.

The international Formula 3000 scene will be graced by a new name this season, after speculation the ISR Charouz team would graduate from the Euro series was proved correct.

Reigning FIA F3000 team champions Arden International have surprised the rest of the paddock by confirming that American driver Townsend Bell will partner Bjorn Wirdheim during this year's F3000 Championship.

Draco has announced that German Sven Heidfeld, younger brother of F1 star Nick, will partner Augusto Farfrus in the up-coming Euro 3000 championship.

Just two years after lifting the team and drivers' championships, Nordic Racing has confirmed that it will not be contesting the 2003 FIA F3000 series.

Brand Motorsports has announced the recruitment of Nordic Racing chief race engineer Brad Joyce, bringing yet another top F3000 engineer to the team and further outlining its ambitious plans for the 2003 FIA F3000 Championship.

Lola Cars' new Formula Nippon chassis made a solid debut appearance at a cold and blustery Snetterton circuit late last week, with test driver Richard Lyons racking up 65 trouble-free laps in the carbon-black B3/51.

Last week the Roman track of Vallelunga reverberated to the sound of some thirty-eight drivers from some twelve different countries having a go with the 500 bhp of a contemporary F3000 car from the Euro series.