Many will expect the experienced dozen to hold the upper hand, at least in the opening stages, and that would effectively rule reigning champions Epsilon Euskadi out of the equation. Joan Villadelprat's Basque squad has opted for the unproven combination of Davide Valsecchi and Steven Kane this year, but remains confident that it can feature in the battle for the podium. Kane was a relatively late addition to the squad, and is still picking up pace, but Valsecchi has belied his lack of success at lower levels with his pace in testing and could be the year's surprise package.
Taking the opposite route this season is Draco, eager to prove its point in the World Series after regular success in Euro and Italian F3000. Having run Markus Winkelhock to a distant title challenge, and Christian Montanari to Monaco glory, in 2005, the team has opted for two experienced - if not proven - heads this year. Pastor Maldonado impressed enough in his Formula Renault career to get a Minardi
F1 test, but has yet to confirm his potential as a possible grand prix graduate having had to sit out much of the 2005 campaign following an accident-induced suspension. The Venezuelan, who will continue to run in Ernesto Viso's shadow until he wins regularly, will be partnered by Czech Tomas Kostka, who has shown flashes of promise in testing but now needs to put that into practice on race weekends.
Carlin Motorsport, a race winner with both Will Power and Andreas Zuber last season, has opted for a foot in both camps in 2006, aided by
Red Bull and Lukoil backing. America's Colin Fleming, a contemporary of
Scott Speed in FRenault, moves over from Jenzer, and will be joined by Russian Mihael Aleshin in a real East-West combination. Fleming showed last season that he has what it takes to win at this level without actually ever doing so, and will hardly have a better chance to open his account than with Carlin. He has shone in testing but, then again, so has his unheralded team-mate, who makes the step up from FRenault despite not really achieving the breakthrough many others have needed to do so. Like Valsecchi, all eyes will be on Aleshin as a possible dark horse.
