 Germany F3000 2002 review.
Story by Andrew Frampton.
The Italian Giorgio Pantano moved back into contention for the 2002 International Formula 3000 championship title with victory at Hockenheim, as his main rivals Tomas Enge and Sebastien Bourdais, fell by the wayside. Pantano dominated proceedings at the shortened German circuit, leading from lights-to-flag - holding off the challenge of the Swede Bjorn Wirdheim, whose second place finish was the best of his F3000 career to date.
Pantano secured pole position in the second qualifying session, with Enge lining up alongside, despite completing just a handful of laps in the first session. Enge's Arden International team-mate Wirdheim lined up less than 0.2 seconds behind. The championship leader Bourdais was only fourth, with Antonio Pizzonia and Rodrigo Sperafico completing the top six. There were also impressive qualifying performances from Derek Hill (7th) and Tiago Monteiro (9th), with Mario Haberfeld splitting the pair.
Pantano made a superb start to lead the field into the first turn, with Wirdheim squeezing ahead of Enge for second, and Pizzonia taking fourth as Bourdais made a poor start and dropped to seventh. On the run into the hairpin, the Frenchman became involved in a collision with Hill, Patrick Friesacher and Enrico Toccacelo, with the latter two forced out of the event. Bourdais continued at the tail of the field, but after another spin he pulled into the pits to retire his substantially damaged machine. At the front, Pantano gradually extended his lead, with Wirdheim maintaining an easy grid on second position once Enge had run wide in the Stadium section of the track, dropping to fourth behind Pizzonia. The Czech driver would be out before half distance, however, when he ran wide at the hairpin and Ricardo Sperafico dived up the inside, resulting in a collision that would put the championship challenger out of proceedings.
With both the drivers ahead of him in the championship out of the race, Pantano took full advantage, recording an untroubled victory, with Wirdheim giving some joy to his Arden team with second position. Pizzonia had been heading for third place until mechanical problems forced him out with two laps left. This promoted Rodrigo Sperafico to third position after his twin-brother, Ricardo, had been given a stop/go penalty for his part in Enge's demise. Haberfeld came home in fourth position, ahead of Monteiro, who recorded his first points finish of the season. Ricardo Sperafico recovered to take the final point for sixth position, finishing ahead of the Nordic racing cars of Thed Bjork (who had started last) and Zsolt Baumgartner. Hill was the final classified finisher, one lap down.
Pantano's maximum points haul means he is now just 12 points behind the championship leader Bourdais, in third position overall. This leaves the championship well poised for the next round in Hungary.
Race Result:
1. Giorgio Pantano (Coloni)
2. Bjorn Wirdheim (Arden) +8.776s
3. Rodrigo Sperafico (Durango) +23.843s
4. Mario Haberfeld (Astromega) +26.216s
5. Tiago Monteiro (Super Nova) +27.340s
6. Ricardo Sperafico (Petrobras) +33.809s
Championship Standings:
1. Sebastien Bourdais 46pts
2. Tomas Enge 41pts
3. Giorgio Pantano 34pts
4. Rodrigo Sperafico 20pts
5. Mario Haberfeld 18pts
6. Antonio Pizzonia 18pts
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
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