Janis subs for Enge at Nordic.

The Czech Republic will continue to be represented in the FIA F3000 Championship this weekend, despite Tomas Enge's elevation to the ranks of grand prix driver.

Enge, currently second in points behind team-mate Justin Wilson, will forgo the chance to improve his position by standing in for the injured Luciano Burti in the #23 Prost at Monza, and hands over the reins of his regular mount to countryman Jaroslav Janis. The 18-year old will be making his F3000 race debut in the Italian Grand Prix support race, joining Nordic from the German F3 Championship, where he has been competing for the Opel Team KMS outfit.

"I am pleased for Tomas and his new position at Prost, but one of our main concerns now will be to get Jaroslav settled into the team as quickly as possible and give him the same support and equipment that helped Tomas to get where he is now," team manager Chris Mower commented, "Knowing what a talented driver Tomas is, and having the chance to work with Jaroslav, who is such a young driver at this level, I am sure that this is only the beginning of the Czech invasion."

Enge's promotion to the Formula One ranks marks him out as the first member of the F3000 class of 2001 to make the jump, although Stephane Sarrazin, who ironically drove for the Prost team in the category at Monaco, already has one grand prix to his name. Enge's erstwhile title rivals Wilson and Mark Webber are both expected to make the grade in future.

"We are all excited for Tomas and will be watching him closely at Monza," Nordic team principal Derek Mower said, "It is good to see that drivers such as Tomas and Justin are attracting the attention they deserve from the F1 bosses, and will help establish this formula once again as the route to F1."