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Opening
event will be the Brazilian GP on the 30th of March
In
less than a week’s time, young Tiago Monteiro will be back in action, running
the very first FIA International F3000 Championship race of his career. Monteiro
will join the Renault F1 Driver Development Program, driving
his Lola B2/50, the Nº 6 of the Super Nova Team. The Portuguese driver is one
of seven newly appointed drivers in a Championship that came to replace Formula
2 in 1985, and will have his apprenticeship at the Brazilian Grand Prix, run on
Saturday the 30th March,
after the Formula One qualifying session.
With
a habit of regularly attaining
podium positions (achieving podium 17 times during the 2001 season),
dynamic Monteiro has been given a new challenge, participating in 12 events of
the F3000 Championship – integrated as support programs for the Formula One
Grand Prixs.
Despite
adapting well to his new Lola, Monteiro did not have the best possible
conditions to realize his pre-season tests. This was due to the fact that the
Team only received the second car for the Imola tests, and in addition, the
Super Nova Team was recruiting the Portuguese’s team-mate. Consequently,
Monteiro only had 25% of his opponents’ testing time at Estoril and Barcelona,
while having problems with his gearbox both at Silverstone and Imola, forcing
his premature halt. “Therefore, I had little time to test the tyres in a qualifying
simulation. I am aware that I haven’t yet explored the full potential of the
new tyres, but on the other hand, I am totally confident driving the car with
used tyres, which will be helpful during the race”, explained Monteiro.
Discussing
his new apprenticeship and the up and coming season, Monteiro is realistic, but
determined in his approach: “The main
goal is to be able to score as much as possible. I am aware of how much I still
have to learn, and I am sure this season will not be an easy one, especially for
someone who has a strong habit of fighting for the leading positions, as myself.
It is important to understand the reality, and I don’t want to create
expectations that are too tough to reach. We’ll see how this race turns out”,
says Tiago Monteiro, referring to his rookie year in the Formula 3000.
Within a strong
pack, where one can spot drivers who have been battling in this category for
several seasons, (13 of them are repeaters), Monteiro plans to make his own
mark: “On this 2002 season we have a
pack of drivers with a lot of quality. This, on the one hand, compliments my
results, but on the other hand can only make scoring a tough job. My oponents
are familiar with the circuits, so they lose no time in the qualifying and they
are used to quickly deciding on the car’s set up during complicated
situations”
Nominated
in February to be an official driver for the Renault F1 Driver Development
Program, Monteiro will be under observation by the superior staff of the French
outfit: “Both of the Super Nova cars
have the same colours as the Formula One Renault R202, which represents to us
drivers, a huge responsibility with the Junior Team Renault. The Super Nova Team
will give Renault all the data from my qualifications and races, which will then
be commented on by the technicians, who make a complete analysis on my
performance throughout the season. They know what my difficulties are during the
initial events, but they believed in me and also believed that my integration in
David Sears team would help me surpass the initial problems due to lack of
experience in the F3000, and provide the learning curve required for the various
circuits”.
Referring
to his new 2002 Lola B2/50, the Portuguese driver remarked: “I
must find a more comfortable driving position with the new seat FIA gave us at
Silverstone. I think the first thing I’ll do when the car arrives at
Interlagos is make a new backet. During the last day of tests at Silverstone, we
used the FIA seat and I could not find a comfortable position, so I am hoping to
change it before the race”.
Young
Monteiro has Portugal on full alert: “The
expectations are high, as is media interest.
I have a responsibility to my country, but I ask for some tolerance and a
lot of calm. It’s very important that everyone understands that this is a
tough championship and I am just a rookie. I know I can count on the support of
the motor sports fans in Portugal that attend my races. I want to deserve their
trust, just as I want to deserve the Sponsors trust, such as Unicer
(alcohol-free Cheers beer), Grupo
Santogal, Iberotel, Brisa, Hotel Qª da Marinha, that joined the
multinationals like Renault Portugal, Elf, and Brose
Tecknik fur Automobile”.
2002
CALENDAR
DATE
TRACK
COUNTRY
3Oth
of March
Interlagos
Brazil
13th of April
Imola
Italy
27th of April
Barcelona
Spain
11th of May
A1 – Ring
Austria
25th of May
Monte Carlo
Monaco
22nd of June
Nurburgring
Germany
29th of June
Magny Cours
France
13th of July
Silverstone
UK
27th of July
Hockenhiem
Germany
17th of August
Budapeste
Hungary
31st of August
Spa-Francorchamps
Belgium
14th of September
Monza
Italy
Scoring
is them same as F1:
1º 10p; 2º 6p; 3º 4p; 4º 3p; 5º 2p; 6 1p.
F3000
CHAMPIONS
DRIVERS
TEAM
1985
– Christian Danner
BSA
1986 – Ivan Capelli
Genoa
1987 – Stefano Modena
Onyx
1988 – Roberto Moreno
Bromley Motorsport
1989 – Jean Alesi
Eddie Jordan Racing
1990 – Erik Comas
DAMS
1991 – Christian Fittipaldi
Pacific Racing
1992 – Luca Badoer
Crypton
1993 – Olivier Panis
DAMS
1994 – Jean Christophe Boullion
DAMS
1995 – Vincenzo Sospiri
Super Nova Racing
1996 – Jorg Muller
RSM Marko
1997 – Ricardo Zonta
Super Nova Racing
1998 – Juan Pablo Montoya
Super Nova Racing
1999 – Nick Heidfeld
West Competition
2000 – Bruno Junqueira
Petrobrás Junior Team
2001 - Justin Wilson
Nordic
TEAMS
1999 – West Competition
2000 – Super Nova Racing
2001 - Nordic
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Praça
João Martinho de Freitas, lote 22 A – 2750-388 Cascais Tel. 21 484 84 00 Fax. 21 486 39 81 Email. dca@dcanews.com |