Arden surprises by signing Bell.

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.

The 26-year old joins the team on a two-year contract after previously dominating the 2001 Indy Lights Championship and making several promising performances in the 2002 CART Championship Series.

Bell will commence testing with the team at Imola in February as part of an extensive pre-season programme prior to the first race at Imola on 19 April.

"I am delighted that we have secured Townsend's services to join our F3000 programme," commented team boss Christian Horner. "For us it is critical, after such a successful season last year with Tomas Enge and Bjorn Wirdheim, that we have a driver who will push Bjorn. In Townsend, we have a driver with considerable ability, whom we firmly believe will achieve this after a very impressive career in the USA.

"The whole team will now be focusing on repeating and exceeding our 2002 performance in what I'm sure will be another close and exciting year of F3000 racing."

For Bell, the move is something of a new start, having initially started 2002 in the CART Champcar series with Patrick Racing. The American found the going tough despite his pedigree as Indy Lights champion, however, and was replaced by Oriol Servia mid-season.

"I am delighted to be joining the top team in F3000 and thank Arden for giving me this opportunity," Bell admitted, "The FIA F3000 Championship is the obvious step to grand prix racing, and I am really looking forward to racing on European circuits.

"2003 will be a learning year as all the circuits will be new to me but I am confident that with the new free practice format I will be able to get up to speed quickly. I can't wait to get started."