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FIA Formula 3000 Championship
Round 5/12, Monaco
Race, May 25 2002
Weather: hot and sunny

Mario Haberfeld: 6th, 45 laps in 69m 09.245s

Rob Nguyen: retired after 16 laps, accident

Mario Haberfeld maintained his place in the top five of the FIA Formula 3000 Championship after an eventful 45 laps around the famed streets of Monte Carlo. The Team Astromega Lola driver clipped a barrier late in the race but survived to score points for the fourth time in five starts this season. He was sixth of eight drivers to complete the gruelling event.

The Brazilian’s team-mate Rob Nguyen again created a good impression. The Australian had never driven on a street circuit prior to this weekend, but having qualified a career-best 11^th he was running ninth, just ahead of Mario, when he spun, hit the guardrail and was forced to retire. It is the first time the Brisbane rookie has failed to finish a race this season. 

Mario Haberfeld

“To be honest this was not one of my better races. I lost momentum at the start because I ran a little bit wide, mainly because I saw Rob on the inside and was worried that we might collide. After that a couple of cars passed me – and if you lose places at Monaco it is almost impossible to get them back because the track is too narrow to permit overtaking in a normal racing situation.

“Once the race settled down I was following the battle for sixth place between Ricardo Mauricio and Alex Müller. I was keeping my distance because I felt sure they might crash – they were persistently bumping into each other. In the end it was me who hit the barrier first, when I ran wide at the last corner with a couple of laps to go. Fortunately the car wasn’t damaged and I was able to make it to the finish. The other two tangled at the final corner and I passed Mauricio’s stricken car, then Müller was given a time penalty for over-aggressive driving and that put me up to sixth. It’s not the best way to score points, but we came away with some reward from a difficult weekend and we are still in the thick of the title battle.” 

Rob Nguyen

“This was a case of what might have been. I’m a bit disappointed because I lost a couple of places at the start and fell behind Ricardo Mauricio, who proceeded to hold several cars up during the opening stages of the race. I was able to stay with the group very easily, but felt I could have pulled away had I been in front of them, which I would have been if I had made a better start.

“Eventually I just made a small mistake that would have made little difference at a normal track, but Monaco doesn’t forgive the slightest error. As soon as I spun I clipped the barriers and that was that. But I can still draw several positives from the weekend: I have learned a whole lot more, including the art of driving around a street circuit, and I have proved that I can be competitive in this situation. The end result might have been disappointing, but there was plenty to feel upbeat about.” 

Sam Boyle, team manager

“We did not perform at our full potential this weekend but at least we came away with something. Mario suffered because he was swamped at the start and Rob paid for his inexperience. That said, it was just another step in his steep learning curve. He was being sensible and playing a canny waiting game when he made a small error. That wouldn’t have mattered at any other track – but it does in Monaco.”