Manor confirms Hayes to complete line-up.

Irishman Derek Hayes will spearhead Manor Motorsport's Formula Three title defence this year, following protracted deliberations by the team.

Manor, which has won F3 titles in both the years since graduating to the formula in 1999, had been considering several possible replacements for 2000 champion Antonio Pizzonia, including Promatecme's Andy Priaulx and Fortec's Gianmaria Bruni, but plumped for Hayes after his promising debut in Korea.

Although he crashed the car in qualifying, the former Palmer Audi race winner did enough to convince team boss John Booth of both his speed and technical ability, and will be engineered by the respected Yorkshireman this season.

American Jeffrey Jones, who ran with Manor in FRenault last year, and rapid FFord graduate Mark Taylor will partner Hayes in an inexperienced line-up, each running identical Dallara-Mugen combinations. Taylor has already gained some F3 experience over the winter by testing in Brazil, while Jones got his first taste of the new-for-2001 Dallara by running the first available customer car recently.

Hayes' confirmation was not the only one from Manor in recent days, however, as it announced that FRenault veteran Leighton Walker would lead its four-car assault on the junior category. The team is also the reigning in the TOCA support, following last year's success with F1 graduate Kimi Raikkonen. Walker will be joined by Canadian James Eaton, American-Italian Richard Antinucci and Irish kart racer Matt Griffin.