Brand confirms youth and experience for 2003.

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.

Paffett and Minassian shared testing duties at Imola last week, causing the rumour mill to crank into overtime regarding a possible partnership for 2003. It had been expected that Minassian would serve only as an experienced head prior to the F3000 season, and be rewarded with outings in Brand's proposed CART squad at Brands Hatch and the Lausitzring in May, while Paffett had been linked to the Super Nova team courtesy of his possible inclusion as Jordan's test driver this year.

Now, however, it has been confirmed that both men will be in action at next month's FIA F3000 tests in Spain, as they work towards a successful debut season for Brand.

"Both of the drivers are confirmed for 2003, and we are looking forward to topping the times at the next tests in Jerez and Barcelona," a spokeswoman confirmed.

Paffett graduates to F3000 after winning the German F3 title with Team Rosberg, and has recently tested for McLaren's F1 squad. While he hopes to be a frontrunner in the support series this season, the British ace is also hoping to land a full-time F1 test position, and is being touted for a role with either Jordan or the Woking team.

Minassian, meanwhile, makes his return to single-seaters after almost two years away. He is the reigning ASCAR stock car champion, bouncing back to winning form after being ousted from Chip Ganassi's CART squad in 2001. He is a former runner-up in the FIA F3000 Championship - behind Bruno Junqueira - and has to be considered a title threat in 2003.