NEWS ARCHIVES

May 2002

News on all the series covered at Unofficial F3000

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Please read: News section has been closed for updates since May 2002.

 

11th May 2002 - World Series V6:

World Series V6: Zonta and Montagny take opening wins The first two Telefonica World Series V6 wins were taken by ex-F1 driver Ricardo Zonta (Gabord Competicion) and reigning 2-litre F.Nissan champion Franck Montagny (Racing Engineering) at Valencia today. Zonta beat Montagny and Rafael Sarandeses (GD Racing) in the first race, while Montagny was joined by Ander Vilarino (Epsilon by Graff) and Zonta on the podium in race 2. Bas Leinders made a solid debut for KTR with two fourth places. Montagny now leads the standings on 37 points to Zonta's 34. Race results have been added here. For more info please see the autosport.com race reports (here and here) and the official site.

 

11th May 2002 - International F3000:

FIA F3000 round 4: Enge heads Arden 1-2 at A1-Ring Tomas Enge took Arden International's first ever race win at the A1-Ring today, teammate Bjorn Wirdheim making it a perfect day for Christian Horner's team by taking second place in his fourth F3000 race. Mario Haberfeld (Astromega) finished third, resisting late-race pressure from Giorgio Pantano (Coloni), who took fourth. Patrick Friesacher (Red Bull Junior) was fifth in his home race, Enrico Toccacelo (Coloni) taking the final point. Enge and Pantano now share the championship lead, taking over from Rodrigo Sperafico (Durango) who could not earn points today. The results and championship standings have been added here. Read autosport.com's race report here.

 

11th May 2002 - World Series V6:

World Series V6: Montagny on pole for both races Reigning Formula Nissan champion Franck Montagny (Racing Engineering) took pole position for both races of tomorrow's first ever round of the Dallara-Nissan World Series at Valencia. Qualifying times for races 1 & 2 have been added here. Read autosport.com's qualifying reports here.

 

11th May 2002 - International F3000:

Pizzonia drops to 11th on grid after yellow flag penalty Antonio Pizzonia dropped to 11th on the grid in Austria yesterday after he was judged to have set his fastest lap in qualifying under yellow flags. As a result the Petrobras Junior driver lost his fastest two lap times, and consequently his fifth place. Tiago Monteiro was given the same penalty for the same offence, but after losing the two quickest laps the Super Nova driver remained in 15th on the grid. The results have been amended.

 

10th May 2002 - International F3000:

FIA F3000 round 4: Enge takes pole in Austria Tomas Enge dominated qualifying today for round 4 of International F3000 at the A1-Ring, Austria. The Arden pilot set a pace-setting time mid-way through the first session, and it remained unbeaten. Coloni showed Giorgio Pantano's Barcelona win was no fluke, the Italian second ahead of teammate Enrico Toccacelo. Astromega's Mario Haberfeld will start fourth, ahead of Antonio Pizzonia (Petrobras Junior) and Bjorn Wirdheim (Arden). Sebastien Bourdais, who had taken pole for every race so far this season, was off the pace in ninth, along with championship leader Rodrigo Sperafico (Durango) in 13th. Meanwhile, inexperienced rookie Rob Nguyen impressed with the 12th fastest time for Astromega. Times are available here.

 

10th May 2002 - World Series V6:

World Series round 1: Sarandeses quickest in free practice GD Racing's Rafael Sarandeses emerged quickest as the first round action of the Telefonica World Series got underway in Valencia, Spain, today. The Spaniard's time of 1:24.437 in the 7-Up Dallara-Nissan was set in the second of two free practice sessions ahead of qualifying tomorrow. F1 refugee Ricardo Zonta (Gabord Competicion) was second on 1:24.619 with Ander Vilariño (Epsilon by Graff) third on 1:24.733. The second session was red-flagged four few times due to incidents, with Polo Villaamil, Roberto Gonzalez, Tuka Rocha, Sarandeses and Damien Faulkner all suffering offs. More information in the news at the official site.

 

10th May 2002 - Euro 3000:

Busnelli to replace Nemarnik at Great Wall Italian Max Busnelli will return to the Great Wall Racing Team from the next round at Enna-Pergusa, replacing Tom Nemarnik. Busnelli raced for Great Wall last year (source: Great Wall Racing Team/Traini Corse).

 

10th May 2002 - World Series V6:

Faulkner joins Zele Motorsport Former Indy Lights frontrunner Damien Faulkner has signed a last minute deal to partner Nicolas Filiberti in the World Series opener at Valencia this weekend. The Irish driver, the Euro Formula Palmer Audi champion of 2000, is currently on a race-by-race contract (source: Zele Motorsport). Another Indy Lights driver from last year, Kristian Kolby, was in talks with the team to race until yesterday, but according to Autosport any deal was hindered by budget problems. Earlier this week, we heard that Kari Mäenpää's chances of racing for the team had floundered because of sponsorship difficulties. The Finn had been sent a contract and the team were waiting for a decision. The silly season page has been updated. Zele Motorsport tested at Barcelona on Tuesday, along with GD Racing, Racing Engineering and RC Motorsport. Driver Filiberti said: "This championship is a very important step in my career. I feel very confident this year and I have a good feeling for the car and the team."

 

10th May 2002 - World Series V6:

Gonzalez signs for GD Racing Roberto Gonzalez, a frontrunner in last year's FC Euro Series, has filled the last remaining seat in the Telefonica World Series Dallara-Nissan championship (news thanks to Jose Ramon Galan). The Mexican will partner Rafael Sarandeses. The silly season page has been updated.

 

10th May 2002 - World Series V6:

Leinders and Gomide sign for KTR Bas Leinders and Luciano Gomide have signed for World Series team KTR as expected, Autosport confirms. Leinders raced for KTR in International F3000 in 1999 and 2001. He has been linked to a drive since Kurt Mollekens decided to move his team into the new series, but sponsorship problems meant any deal was delayed until a backer came forward to underwrite his campaign. Ex-US F3 champion Gomide outpaced Rafael Sarandeses in an Albacete test to seal the drive. The championship starts at Valencia this weekend. The silly season page has been updated.

 

10th May 2002 - World Series V6:

Real Sociedad to support Vilariño Another top Spanish football team have got involved in the new Telefonica World Series. Ander Vilariño (Epsilon by Graff) will be supported by Spanish "Primera Division" team Real Sociedad. The presentation was made on Tuesday. News thanks to Jose Ramon Galan. Barcelona FC are supporting Gabord Competicion this year.

 

10th May 2002 - FC Euro Series:

Van der Ende to return as Aztec International enter FC Euro Series Former Formula Renault team Aztec International are to enter this year's Formula Chrysler Euro Series, Autosport reports. The team pulled out of Formula Renault recently due to mixed results. Inaugural FC Euro Series champion Ricardo van der Ende raced for the squad this season, and will return to the 3.5 litre formula with Aztec when the series kicks off again in July. Aztec will run at least one extra Reynard chassis in the series, and could enter a third. The team are testing several drivers, including ex Formula Renault and current Formula Ford driver Andrew Thompson. Team owner Rob Kemp said: "We have signed a multi-year deal with the Euro Series, although we have an option to leave at the end of this year if the grid numbers are not to our satisfaction by that point. If the organisers can get between 15 and 18 cars, we will be well on our way to a good championship. One of the attractions of joining the series is that we will get a certain level of assistance for being the first British team to enter. I hope to have signed my drivers by the end of the month." The silly season page has been updated.

 

10th May 2002 - FC Euro Series:

FC Euro Series calendar changes - series starts in July The FC Euro Series will start much later in the year, the latest calendar at the official site confirms. The calendar, added here, will kick off with rounds 1 and 2 at Imola in July.

 

10th May 2002 - International F3000:

Bourdais to join BAR? According to Autosport, Super Nova's Sebastien Bourdais has been linked to a drive at F1 team British American Racing next year.

 

10th May 2002 - International F3000:

Petrobras Junior test at Adria Petrobras Junior Team carried out a private test at the new Adria circuit in Italy last weekend, with drivers Antonio Pizzonia and Ricardo Sperafico.

 

10th May 2002 - International F3000:

Enge sets Le Mans pace Arden's F3000 driver Tomas Enge set the pace in the GTS class in testing for the Le Mans 24 Hours last Sunday. The Czech driver set the fastest ever class time in the Prodrive Ferrari 550 Maranello, outpacing mid-90's F3000 driver Christophe Bouchut in a Chrysler Viper GTS-R. Enge will share the car with Alain Menu and Rickard Rydell in the endurance event next month.

 

10th May 2002 - Formula Holden:

Formula Holden on UK TV Look out for highlights of Formula Holden this season on Motors TV, available in the UK on digital television. Race coverage is included in the "Trackside" programme, along with highlights of the Australian Konica V8 Supercar series, where ex-F.Holden drivers like Simon Wills, Paul Dumbrell and Dale Brede have made their names.

 

5th May 2002 - Euro 3000:

Euro 3000 round 2: snow causes Nurburgring cancellation Round 2 of the Euro 3000 championship was cancelled today, as the bad weather which has affected the weekend took a turn for the worse and saw snow falling overnight at the Nurburgring. Organisers made the decision this morning, when qualifying had been due to take place after foggy conditions meant it was postponed from yesterday. Snow has caused problems for Formula 3000 in the past at the German circuit - in the first season of International F3000 in 1985, a round at the track was cancelled after practice. The Euro 3000 circus will next take to the track at Enna-Pergusa on 19th May.

 

5th May 2002 - World Series V6:

Filiberti confirmed at Zele Motorsport; Mäenpää hasn't signed Zele Motorsport have confirmed that former F3000 driver Nicolas Filiberti will drive for them in this year's Dallara-Nissan Telefonica World Series. Meanwhile Kari Mäenpää has NOT been confirmed at the team, as mistakenly reported in news from Spain earlier. The silly season page has been updated.

 

4th May 2002 - Euro 3000:

Euro 3000 round 2: fog delays qualifying The qualifying session for round 2 of Euro 3000 at the Nurburgring was postponed today, due to dense fog moving in. Team managers agreed with organisers to have qualifying tomorrow morning instead, in place of the warm-up. Free practice took place yesterday in cold but dry conditions, with Martin Basso (GP Racing) quickest from teammate Alessandro Piccolo and Jaime Melo Jr (Great Wall Racing). Another session this morning was marked by heavy rain, with International F3000 refugee Joel Camathias (Scuderia Fama) fastest from Thomas Biagi (Team Ghinzani) and Julien Vidot (Victory Engineering). The decision to postpone qualifying is wise, as similar wet and foggy conditions led to a serious accident for Dino Morelli in the circuit's International F3000 race in 1997. Free practice times available on the Tiscali Euro 3000 site.

 

4th May 2002 - Euro 3000:

De Pourtales replaces Lancieri at Sighinolfi Gabriele Lancieri has been replaced for round 2 of Euro 3000 by France's Jean De Pourtales. It was known that Lancieri was competing on a temporary basis at the Vallelunga opener and that the team was seeking a new driver. De Pourtales struggled in 25th and 26th places respectively in Friday and Saturday free practice.

 

4th May 2002 - Euro 3000:

"Babalus" returns to the track Italian driver "Babalus" made his 2002 debut in free practice at the Nurburgring. It appears that he has sorted out the budget problems which stopped him from driving for Bieffe Competition in the opening round. "Babalus" was 22nd and 8th in the two free practice sessions.

 

3rd May 2002 - World Series V6:

Racing Engineering to test at Albacete and Barcelona Racing Engineering will be testing on Saturday in Albacete, along with Epsilon by Graff. They will also test along with most of the other World Series teams at Barcelona next Monday and Tuesday (source: Racing Engineering).

 

3rd May 2002 - World Series V6:

World Series silly season update: Leinders, Filiberti, Gomide not confirmed The latest news we have received indicates that neither Bas Leinders or Nicolas Filiberti have signed for KTR in the Nissan World Series V6. Their inclusion on the entry list at the official series site appears to be based solely upon their appearances in recent testing. Leinders is 99% sure of a drive according to a report at pitstop.tv (thanks to Geert Barentsen and J.De Swert), although this week's Autosport stated that he will not be driving due to a failure to find the budget. Filiberti will not be his teammate according to reports, with Luciano Gomide (reportedly confirmed at GD Racing earlier) now the likely other driver. The silly season page has been updated with the latest news, while driver/car numbers have also been added (with thanks to Racing Engineering team manager Alfonso de Orleans).

 

3rd May 2002 - World Series V6:

FC Barcelona backing for Gabord Competicion Gabord Competicion, with driver Ricardo Zonta and Tuka Rocha, have secured a sponsorship deal with top Spanish football club FC Barcelona (source: Autosport). The deal, due to be announced next Wednesday, will see Gabord's two Dallara-Nissan chassis painted in Barcelona's blue, claret and gold colours. The news is another blow to the Premier 1 Grand Prix series, scheduled to start next year. P1GP had hoped to sign up FC Barcelona to back a car in its series.

 

3rd May 2002 - World Series V6:

Hynes deal stalled due to cash problems Ex-British F3 champion Marc Hynes failed to secure a drive with GD Racing for the Dallara-Nissan World Series due to budget problems, Autosport reports.

 

3rd May 2002 - International F3000:

Sperafico to test Williams Petrobras Junior F3000 driver Ricardo Sperafico is to complete four days of aerodynamic testing with the Williams F1 team at the Danielson circuit in France next week.

 

3rd May 2002 - Formula Nippon:

Treluyer and Cochet for Le Mans 24 Hours drive French Formula Nippon drivers Benoit Treluyer and Jonathan Cochet will take part in the Le Mans 24 Hours this June. The pair will race an ORECA Chrysler Viper alongside Jean-Philippe Belloc.

 

1st May 2002 - World Series V6:

Leinders and Filiberti confirmed at KTR Belgian Bas Leinders and Argentinian Nicolas Filiberti have been confirmed at KTR for this season's inaugural Telefonica World Series Dallara-Nissan V6 championship (sources: Jose Ramon Galan / David Lopez). KTR have defected from International F3000, having made their debut in 1997 with a one-car effort for Kurt Mollekens. The news means that there is only one seat out of 20 remaining for the series, at Zele Motorsport. Kari Mäenpää has been confirmed in their other car (see below). The silly season page has been updated.

 

1st May 2002 - World Series V6:

Mäenpää confirmed at Zele Motorsport Finn Kari Mäenpää, a graduate from German F3, has been confirmed as a driver for Austrian team Zele Motorsport in the Nissan World Series V6 according to Spanish reports (source: Jose Ramon Galan). The silly season page has been updated.

 

1st May 2002 - Formula Holden:

Formula Holden round 2: McColl wins Series returnee Stewart McColl won both races of round 2 of the Formula Holden championship at Eastern Creek on Sunday. Ralt Australia teammate Will Power was runner-up in both races, and the rookie now heads the points standings. Race report and full results are available at the official site. Results and standings will be updated on this site soon.

 

1st May 2002 - International F3000:

Manning moves to ASCAR; still looking for F3000 drive Former F3000 frontrunner Darren Manning, dropped after two seasons with Arden, has made a surprise switch to the ASCAR stock car series. He is however still looking to return to F3000. The BAR F1 test driver will race in ASCAR for Bintcliffe Sport alongside British Touring Car champion Jason Plato. Manning told autosport.com: "I'm really excited about the challenge of the 2002 ASCAR series. It's an exciting opportunity for myself and my sponsors to compete in a high-speed, high-profile championship." He added: "It's going to be totally different to F3000 and F1 testing but I'm looking forward to the different technical and racing challenges which it will present." He is still looking at a single-seater future, and hopes ASCAR will lead to a career in CART: "I was looking the CART championship for this season and the ASCAR series will give me oval racing experience which seems to be a high priority with the CART team bosses when looking at new drivers. Success in ASCAR will hopefully open up many new doors for my future career." He continued: "I'm still contracted to BAR for F1 testing and my manager Mike O'Brien is actively looking for either F3000 or Sports Car drives which can be combined with the ASCAR racing programme. It should provide a great platform for my sponsors, RAC Autowindscreens, to promote their brand image, and we are planning lots of promotional activity to support the races themselves."

 

1st May 2002 - Indy Lights:

Bob Dorricott: 1937-2002 Bob Dorricott, founder of two-time Indy Lights (former F3000 equivalent in the USA) championship winning team Dorricott Racing, died of cancer last Friday. Oriol Servia and Townsend Bell won the 1999 and 2001 championships respectively.

 

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