However, to concentrate on champions is to overlook the likes of James Rossiter (Pons Racing) and Alvaro Barba (Jenzer Motorsport), both of whom step up from F3 careers in 2005. Rossiter is a highly-prized capture for Sito Pons' operation, having combined his season in the F3 Euroseries with a place on Honda
F1's development scheme. The Briton, who struggled to repeat his 2004 British F3 form against stronger opposition in Europe, missed part of the pre-season due to his F1 commitments, but was immediately on the pace when he joined the World Series. Barba, meanwhile, is not in the same mould, but could surprise on occasion.
A third F3 champion also joins the fold this year, but it has taken several seasons for Robbie Kerr's promise to be recognised. Only John Surtees foresight in picking the Briton for his A1GP team appears to have resurrected Kerr's single-seater goals, and he finds himself at KTR alongside another Surtees-inspired A1GP pick, Sean McIntosh, who graduates as runner-up in the Formula Renault UK series. Both have adapted surprisingly quickly, especially given that the A1GP season and testing overlapped at the turn of the year, and KTR could yet find itself in with a shout of both titles.
Formula Renault also provides the World Series with Ben Hanley, who finished as runner-up in the Italian national championship last season. The Briton already has WS experience though, having jumped at the chance top graduate early, joining Cram at the end of the 2005 campaign. He has since gone on to be included on Renault F1's driver development programme, suggesting bigger things lie ahead should this season go to plan.
Pascal Kochem likewise takes a big step into the WS, but has shown glimpses of promise in testing, and could be considered among those relative unknowns who could possibly make an impact this year. Alessandro Bonetti is another, the Italian having appeared undecided on where to race in recent seasons, bouncing up and down the ladder as though it was also populated by snakes.
