 Brazilian F3000 (Sao Paulo) 2002 review.
Story by Andrew Frampton.
The Formula 3000 season got underway in Brazil, with those drivers returning to the series for a second season taking the event by storm, in a race which resulted in a historic 1-2-3-4 result for Brazilian drivers. Rodrigo Sperafico had been largely overshadowed by his twin brother Ricardo last season, but set the record straight by claiming victory.
Sebastien Bourdais, a veteran of several F3000 seasons was fastest in qualifying, and placed his SuperNova Racing machine on pole position. Tomas Enge, the Arden driver who had a spell with the Prost Grand Prix team at the end of last season, was second fastest, just 0.06seconds slower than the Frenchman. Another F3000 regular, the former British Formula 3 driver Mario Haberfeld, lined up third, ahead of Rodrigo Sperafico. Bjorn Wirdheim, who may be familiar to British fans following a stint in the Formula Palmer Audi Championship several years ago, was the top rookie in fifth. The Coloni driver Enrico Toccacelo lined up in sixth. Antonio Pizzonia, Ricardo Mauricio, Ricardo Sperafico and Giorgio Pantano completed the top ten - all were within one second of the pole position time.
Bourdais made the most of his pole position to lead from Enge, as Rodrigo Sperafico passed Haberfeld for third into Turn 1. Bourdais led until a puncture forced him into the pits for a tyre-change on lap nine and he resumed at the tail of the field. This allowed Enge to open up a considerable lead, only for a fuel pump problem to force the leader into the pits and out of the race. Rodrigo Sperafico was now in the lead, and despite pressure from Haberfeld, he held off the Astromega driver to the flag. Mauricio's Red Bull car took third from Petrobras driver Antonio Pizzonia.
Despite stalling on the grid, Wirdheim stormed though the field to become the highest placed rookie, and highest placed non-Brazilian in fifth position - Toccacelo took the final point in sixth. Ricardo Sperafico, Pantano, Tiago Monteiro and Patrick Friesacher completed the top ten. The championship winning team from last year, Nordic Racing, had a troubled start to the 2002 campaign, as Ryan Briscoe could manage only 12th, and Zsolt Baumgartner retired.
The series now moves to Europe, and supports the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola.
Race Result:
1. Rodrigo Sperafico (Durango)
2. Mario Haberfeld (Astromega) +0.793s
3. Ricardo Mauricio (Red Bull Jnr) +3.901s
4. Antonio Pizzonia (Petrobras) +5.220s
5. Bjorn Wirdheim (Arden) +5.431s
6. Enrico Toccacelo (Coloni) +6.544s
Championship positions as the race result.
2002 F3000 season calendar
30/03/2002 - Sao Paulo
- Brazil grid by JR
- Brazil review by AF
- Brazil lap-by-lap by JR
13/04/2002 - Imola
- San Marino grid by JR
- San Marino review by AF
- San Marino lap-by-lap by JR
27/04/2002 - Barcelona
- Spain grid by JR
- Spain review by AF
- Spain lap-by-lap by JR
11/05/2002 - Spielberg
- Austria grid by JR
- Austria review by AF
- Austria lap-by-lap by JR
25/05/2002 - Monaco
- Monaco grid by JR
- Monaco review by AF
- Monaco lap-by-lap by JR
22/06/2002 - Nürburgring
- Europe grid by JR
- Europe review by AF
- Europe lap-by-lap by JR
06/07/2002 - Silverstone
- Britain grid by JR
- Britain review by AF
- Britain lap-by-lap by JR
20/07/2002 - Magny-Cours
- France grid by JR
- France review by AF
- France lap-by-lap by JR
27/07/2002 - Hockenheim
- Germany circuit by JR
- Germany grid by JR
- Germany review by AF
17/08/2002 - Hungaroring
- Hungary circuit by JR
- Hungary grid by JR
- Hungary lap-by-lap by JR
31/08/2002 - Spa Francorchamps
- Belgium grid by JR
- Belgium review by AF
- Belgium lap-by-lap by JR
14/09/2002 - Monza
- Italy grid by JR
- Italy review by AF
- Italy lap-by-lap by JR
|
|
|
|
