AUGUST 23, 2003

Renault and Formula 3000

There are whispers in Formula 1 circles that Formula 3000 is going to get a major revamp in 2005 with a change of engine on the cards. The Formula 3000 field shrank to 14 cars at the weekend in Hungary and there are similar problems with numbers in the rival European Formula 3000, the Formula Nissan and Formula Renault V6 championships. There is little logic in having four competing series all trying to establish themselves as the important formula, particularly as Nissan and Renault are sister companies. We hear that the plan is for Renault Sport to become the engine supplier for F3000 - although the engines will probably be based on a John Judd unit rather than a production-based Renault engine. This will take away the need for the Renault V6 series and Formula Nissan and if costs can be cut the European Formula 3000 series will fade away as its only raison d'être was to provide Formula 3000 at a sensible price.

We hear also that Formula 3000 will switch across to becoming Formula 2.