DECEMBER 7, 2001

New-look Formula 3000 looks much the same

THE cars will be new in 2002 but the main contenders for the International Formula 3000 series are not going to change. The FIA has recently issued a list of entries for the series and as usual the frontrunners will be Coca-Cola Nordic Racing, Petrobras Junior Team and Super Nova Racing. The official entry list features a full 13 two-car teams including European Minardi and Prostar (the Prost Junior Team). Other teams which might make an impression are DAMS, Red Bull Junior Team, KTR, Arden Team Russia and Team Astromega. There is one new team called PSM-Racing Line, a German team founded by two rival German F3 outfits. There are some doubts as to whether all the teams will actually appears with Prostar and DAMS both rumored to be doubtful.

The driver market is still largely open although the championship favorites will be Antonio Pizzonia and Ricardo Sperafico of the Petronas Junior Team. Nordic Racing has signed up Zsolt Baumgartner. Super Nova Racing has been testing a variety of drivers including Sebastien Bourdais, Giorgio Pantano and Portugal's Tiago Monteiro. Arden Team Russia has also tried Bourdais and has run Tomas Enge and Gianmaria Bruni in recent tests while Team Astromega has tested Rodrigo Sperafico, identical twin brother of Ricardo.