UNOFFICIAL F3000 INFORMATION

Albers signs for Arrows junior team Dutchman Christijan Albers, the reigning German Formula 3 champion, has been confirmed as the teammate to Mark Webber at European Formula Racing, the Arrows junior team. (Source: http://www.arrowsf1.com/ )

Britain gets F3000 mini-series for 2000 A new mini-series for International F3000 teams will be held in the Autumn in Britain. The Autumn Cup, promoted by Edenbridge boss Peter Briggs, will consist of four 100km races held at Brands Hatch, Donington and Snetterton. The entry will be limited to 10 teams, each of which must run two of the current Lola T99/50s. For more information go here. (Source: Autosport)

Witmeur KTR links up with German F3 team; Olivier signed Belgian team Witmeur KTR, run by ex-racer Kurt Mollekens, has set up a motorsport academy to assist the careers of young Belgian drivers. The team has linked up with the JB Motorsport team which will run Belgians Nicolas Stelandre and Val Hillebrand in German F3. Both teams will now run in the same livery. Meanwhile, KTR has finally confirmed Jeffrey van Hooydonk and German F3 driver Yves Olivier as its F3000 line-up for this season. (Source: Autosport)

Terrien moves to Sportscars Former French F3 front-runner and DAMS F3000 driver David Terrien will race for Sports Racing World Cup series champion JB Competition this year. The Frenchman had previously been rumoured to move to the Italian F3000 series after his disappointing rookie season last year. He will now line-up with Christian Pescatori in a Ferrari 333SP for the 10 round series and the Le Mans 24hrs. Terrien raced a Lola B98/10 at Le Mans last year for DAMS. Meanwhile German driver Norman Simon, who also had a poor 1999 in F3000, will race a Riley & Scott for Team Rafanelli in the American Le Mans series this year. (Source: Autosport)

Rookie Manning fastest in 2nd day of Valencia tests Darren Manning continued to make an impressive start to his rookie season by topping the timesheets on day 2 of the official two-day F3000 test in Valencia, Spain, yesterday. The Brit, driving for Arden this year while also testing for BAR in F1, won the Japanese F3 championship last year along with the prestigious Macau and Korean F3 Grands Prix. His time of 1m:24.544s put him ahead of fellow rookie Sebastien Bourdais (Gauloises Formula) and second-year man Enrique Bernoldi (Red Bull). Stephane Sarrazin ended up fastest overall in the tests with his time from Tuesday. See all the times here soon.

Sarrazin tops test times again Title favourites Stephane Sarrazin (McLaren) and Bruno Junqueira (Petrobras Junior) set the first and second fastest times respectively in the first day of official F3000 testing at Valencia, Spain. Rookie Sebastien Bourdais (Gauloises Junior/Prost Jr), the 1999 Frecnh F3 champion, was the surprise third fastest driver. Mario Haberfeld continued to show the improved form he has gained from moving to Fortec with fourth position while probable Arrows tester Mark Webber (European Formula/Arrows Jr) finished fifth overall. Christijan Albers once again tested for European Formula, and seems certain to sign for the season. See the times here.

Shaw switches to Edenbridge for Italian campaign Scotland's Mark Shaw has signed to race for Edenbridge in Italian F3000 this year. He contested the series last year with Redgrave Racing after a disappointing International F3000 season with Redman Bright in 1998. (Source: BBC Ceefax)

Minardi sign Alonso as test driver Spain's Fernando Alonso has become the latest F3000 driver to carry out testing duties for an F1 team by signing as Minardi's reserve driver. Should he get to start a Grand Prix, the 18-year old will be the youngest F1 driver in history. Alonso, the 1999 Euro Open Formula Nissan champion, will race for Astromega in F3000 this year. (Source: Autosport Online)

Aussie Pavicevic to race in F3000 Italia Australian driver Andrej Pavicevic is to step down to the Italian F3000 series this year. He will race with a team unconfirmed as yet. Pavicevic had a difficult first F3000 season with Fortec last year, but did well on occasion considering it was only his second season of car racing. Former Arrows sponsor Zepter will continue to support him. (Source: Hot Open Wheelers)

Argentinian confirmed at Minardi Former F3000 driver Gaston Mazzacane has been confirmed as the replacement for Luca Badoer at Minardi, meaning the better-rated Max Wilson and Norberto Fontana will have to look elsewhere. The 24-year old Argentinian was the team's official test driver last year. (Source: Autosport Online)

Bernoldi confirmed as Sauber test driver F3000 driver Enrique Bernoldi, who drives for the Red Bull Junior team, has been confirmed as the Sauber F1 test driver for 2000 at the team's launch of the Sauber C19. (Source: Autosport)

Fortec enter team in Italian F3000 International F3000 team Fortec Motorsport will also enter two cars into F3000 Italia this year. (Source: Autosport)

Varano to race in Italian F3000 Italian F3 race winner Gabriele Varano has signed to race for Team Ghinzani in F3000 Italia. He will be joined by Formula Renault Eurocup driver Luca Vacis. Team Ghinzani made an impressive Italian F3000 debut in the final race of last year. (Source: Autosport)

Now Mazzacane is 'certain' for Minardi F1 seat Former F3000 backmarker/mid-fielder Gaston Mazzacane has emerged as the partner to Marc Gene at Minardi this year. The drive was previously expected to go to Max Wilson after he, Norberto Fontana and Mazzacane all tested for the team. However, Giancarlo Minardi announced at a press conference in Argentina that Argentinian Mazzacane would be employed in 2000, although the signing is not yet official. Mazzacane managed to score just two points in three years of F3000. (Source: Autosport)

Krumm signs for 5Zigen in Japan Formula Nippon veteran Michael Krumm will again contest the 2000 championship with 5Zigen. (Source: Autosport)

Scheckter opts for British F3 South African Tomas Scheckter has signed to race for top team Paul Stewart Racing in British F3 rather than jump directly to F3000. Last year's EFDA Euroseries champion previously tested F3000 machinery with the graduating team Martello and European Formula. Martello, who will join forces with Coloni this year, have already signed Soheil Ayari and the second seat now looks likely to go to Dino Morelli. European Formula, the junior Arrows team, have signed Mark Webber who is expected to be partnered by German F3 champion Christijan Albers. Scheckter has also followed Luciano Burti's footsteps by signing an F1 test contract with Jaguar. The team also have an option on him for the 2001 season. (Source: BBC Ceefax)

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