Tielemans to race with Ma-Con Motorsport.

Olivier Tielemans had his seat fitting at MA-CON Motorsport yesterday in preparation to compete in the prestigious 2004 FIA International F3000 championship.

Tielemans and MA-CON Motorsport came to an agreement and Tielemans is now to be promoted from Formula Renault 2000, where the Dutchman scored some impressive results in the strong Benelux Championship. In his first year in Formula Renault 2000 he finished fifth overall and fourth in the junior class.

"The FIA International F3000 championship is a class of strong competition and has some very good drivers," commented Tielemans, "This year will be a learning year for me and I will do the best I can to help the team and my German team-mate Tony Schmidt, so that we can score important points for the championship.

"My ambition in motorsport is to realise the highest possible. This is a huge possibility for me. I am taking over the car of Nicolas Kiesa [winner Monaco 2003] and he made it to F1 last year as team-mate of Jos Verstappen!"

Tielemans started with karting when he was seven. After he graduated in 2001 from the International School in Cambridge, he got his racing license at the Michel Bleekemolen Race School.

In 2002 he moved to Italy where he competed in the Formula Renault 1600 championship for the Tomcat Racing Team. Last year he drove for MP Motorsports in the Benelux Formula Renault 2000 championship and now a dream comes true for the 19-year old.

Casper Wempe, Tielemans' manager, has made sure that the youngster has prepared himself the last couple of months physically and mentally, at the 'Esporta' Health Club in Oxford. His personal trainer, James Milligan, of Driver performance is very positive about Tielemans's progress and of his staying power and endurance.

Team MA-CON Motorsport was established by Marian Hamprecht at the end of 2001. From the early 90's the German had many successes with Formula Opel Lotus, Formula Renault and Formula 3. This year he decided to invest all his efforts and expertise for the FIA International F3000 championship.

Hamprecht noted: "I am delighted that we have secured the services of Olivier with our goals clearly being to retain both Championships. Olivier is very young, intelligent and demonstrated to have sufficient speed during the Formula Renault 2000 season. I am convinced that he can adapt very soon to the FIA International F3000 championship."

Tielemans cannot wait to make his first kilometres.

"Yesterday I was in Dortmund for a seat fitting at the factory," he added, "Next Monday we will run a three-day test at Jerez, Spain to get used to the 480 bhp strong Lola B02/50 F3000!"