BCN tabs all-Iberia line-up, signs ex-F1 engineer.

New-for-2003 FIA F3000 team BCN Competicion could field an all-Spanish line-up in its debut season, according to sources in its homeland.

The Barcelona-based team, run by former F1 designer Enrique Scalabroni, takes the place of former champion Nordic Racing in the grand prix support series, and is rumoured to have entered into negotiations with former Telefonica Open Series driver Angel Burgueno and reigning Spanish F3 champion Marcel Costa ahead of the 2003 season.

New-for-2003 FIA F3000 team BCN Competicion could field an all-Spanish line-up in its debut season, according to sources in its homeland.

The Barcelona-based team, run by former F1 designer Enrique Scalabroni, takes the place of former champion Nordic Racing in the grand prix support series, and is rumoured to have entered into negotiations with former Telefonica Open Series driver Angel Burgueno and reigning Spanish F3 champion Marcel Costa ahead of the 2003 season.

Burgueno drove for the Repsol-Meycom team in last year's Telefonica Series, and is tipped to bring sponsorship from the Spanish oil giant to BCN to secure his drive. Costa, who followed his domestic success with outings in both Macau and Korea, carried backing from Antaix and RACC, and would be a good fit for the Spanish squad.

Whilst speculation still surrounds BCN's driving strength, however, one certain signing is leading former F1 and F3000 engineer Paolo Catone, who has agreed to co-ordinate the team's on-track operations this season.

Catone boasts wide-ranging experience in the two senior single-seater formulae, as well as sportscar racing, having been responsible for testing and development at Prost Grand Prix, race and test engineer at Ligier, and designer of both the Peugeot 905 and Courage C60 sports prototypes. BCN is hoping that Catone's experience will help to accelerate both team and drivers along the learning curve of its maiden F3000 campaign.

Read More