| F3000.com BRSCC to run F3000 Autumn Cup |
FIA Formula 3000 International Championship |
| The BRSCC is to return to running
international single-seater events. That is the
tremendous news following the announcement of the Formula
3000 Autumn Cup, which will be held over four BRSCC
meetings in September and October this year. The mini series will follow on after the main FIA Formula 3000 Championship season and provides both teams and drivers with the chance to gain vital race experience before the 2001 season. It will be contested by the leading teams from the FIA series using current Formula 3000 cars. A maximum of ten two car teams will be admitted and the Autumn Cup has already received pledges of support from top teams like West McLaren, Super Nova and Kid Jensen Racing. The FIA Championship finishes at Spa-Francorchamps at the end of August, so teams are very keen to use the rest of the season to try out and develop potential drivers for their 2001 line up. Drivers from the 2000 FIA series will also be able to stay on and broaden their experience. When announcing the Formula 3000 Autumn Cup, BRSCC Chief Executive Grant Stewart said: "We are delighted that the BRSCC has been invited to run this series. It will bring current Formula 3000 cars to four of our major meetings and is a tremendous boost for both the club and British race fans. Formula 3000 is the final step before Grand Prix racing and we hope to see future Formula 1 stars gaining their first F3000 experience in the Autumn Cup." On behalf of leading F3000 team Kid Jensen Racing, Vincent Franceschini is delighted with the news. "As a British-based team, it is brilliant to have more races in the UK. It is good for the team and also for our sponsors. It is also a good chance to start testing drivers for the 2001 season in proper qualifying and racing conditions," he said. Each meeting will feature a 100km race run to an international permit and the action starts at the BRSCC Premier meeting at Brands Hatch (GP circuit) on September 9/10 before taking in rounds at Donington Park (September 24), Brands Hatch (September 30/October 1) and Snetterton (October 8). At the first Brands meeting, the Autumn Cup will run in tandem with the European Formula Palmer Audi Championship to provide a spectacular double bill of top international single-seater action. The dates for the championship have also been arranged to avoid clashes with the Italian Formula 3000 Championship which uses the previous generation of F3000 cars, thus ensuring that a wide number of potential drivers will be chasing the 20 seats available for the Autumn Cup. Budgets are expected to be around £50,000 and drivers will need an international B licence to qualify. British Racing &
Sports Car Club |