FEBRUARY 21, 2003

Arden planning a CART attack?

The Arden Formula 3000 team, which came close to winning the International Formula 3000 title last year with Tomas Enge is rumoured to be planning to embark on a CART Champ Car programme this year. It is expected that the team will run a limited programme of races with Enge driving, including the two planned European events at Brands Hatch and the Lausitzring. This could be a prelude to a full programme in 2004.

The team will continue to run in Formula 3000 this year with Bjorn Wirdheim expected to be one of the series frontrunners and Townsend Bell getting used to the European ways of competition. The former CART driver wants to use the season as a springboard to getting a drive in F1.

"The FIA F3000 Championship is the obvious step to Grand Prix Racing," says Bell, "and I am really looking forward to racing on European circuits. This will be a learning year as all the circuits will be new to me but I am confident that I will be able to get up to speed quickly."

It is worth noting that Arden has recently hired Rob Cresswell from its rival Super Nova Racing. Cresswell engineered Sebastian Bourdais to the title last year