1991 International Formula 3000 Championship

The 1991 Formula 3000 International Championship was the seventh season of Formula 3000 in Europe. Christian Fittipaldi won the championship after ten rounds.

Technical changes edit

A major technical change for 1991 was the introduction by Avon of radial-ply tyres. Compared to the previous crossply tyres, these could be more consistently manufactured, and made the cars more consistent aerodynamically, but gave the drivers less control at high slip angles.[1]

Lola's T91/50 chassis was an evolution of the previous year's championship-winning T90/50, and retained a very short wheelbase of 263.0 cm (103.5 in). By comparison, the Reynard 91D had a wheelbase of 277.5 cm (109.3 in).[2] The short wheelbase of the Lola was blamed for its inability to perform on the new tyres, and the Forti Corse team switched to Reynards after three rounds. The Eddie Jordan Racing team attempted to lengthen its Lolas by adding a spacer in between the engine and gearbox, but eventually it too purchased a Reynard for Damon Hill.

The Ralt name, last seen in F3000 in 1988, returned after being split off from the March Group.[3]

Season summary edit

Alessandro Zanardi won for the new Il Barone Rampante team at the first race at Vallelunga. Jean-Marc Gounon then took Ralt's last F3000 win at Pau. Christian Fittipaldi won at Jerez, and Zanardi won again at Mugello.

Gounon won on the road at Enna, but he was controversially adjudged to have jumped the start. The race win was given to Emanuele Naspetti, who was making his first start in a Reynard after his Forti team had switched from Lolas. Naspetti then won the following three races at Hockenheim, Brands Hatch and Spa-Francorchamps. His success was blamed in part on the exotic fuel blend provided by Agip, which would be banned the following year.

Fittipaldi's Pacific teammate Antonio Tamburini won on the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans. In the finale at Nogaro, Fittipaldi beat title rival Zanardi for the race win and the championship.

Drivers and constructors edit

Team Chassis Engine No. Driver Rounds
  DAMS Lola Mugen Honda 1   Allan McNish All
2   Laurent Aïello All
  GA Motorsport Ralt Ford Cosworth 3   Michael Bartels 1
  Massimo Monti 2
4   Thierry Delubac 1-2
  BFG 3000 Reynard Mugen Honda 4   Giovanni Bonanno 3-9
  First Racing Reynard Ford Cosworth 5   Giovanni Bonanno 1
  Michael Bartels 2-4
6   Jean-Denis Délétraz 1-3
7   Éric Hélary 1-4
  Paul Stewart Racing Lola Mugen Honda 8   Marco Apicella All
9   Paul Stewart All
  Forti Corse Lola Ford Cosworth 11   Emanuele Naspetti 1-3
Reynard 4-10
Lola 12   Fabrizio Giovanardi 1-3
Reynard 4-10
  Eddie Jordan Racing Lola Ford Cosworth 14   Damon Hill 1-9
Reynard 10
Lola 15   Vincenzo Sospiri All
  Roni Motorsport Ralt Ford Cosworth 16   Fernando Plata 1-5
  Giovanni Lavaggi 6-10
17   David Brabham 1-4
  Andrew Gilbert-Scott 5-6
  Apomatox Reynard Ford Cosworth 18   Paul Belmondo All
19   Andrea Chiesa 1-8
  Emmanuel Collard 9-10
  Crypton Engineering Reynard Ford Cosworth 20   Roberto Colciago All
21   Fabrizio Barbazza 1
  Pascal Witmeur 8
  Philippe Gache 10
22   Giovanni Lavaggi 1-5
  Peter Zakowski 6-8
  CoBRa Motorsports Reynard Ford Cosworth 23   Paolo Delle Piane All
24   Alain Menu 1-6
  Éric Hélary 7-10
  RSM Marko Reynard Ford Cosworth 25   Karl Wendlinger 3, 5-6, 8-9
  Galaxy Racing Reynard Ford Cosworth 26   Philippe Gache 1-9
  David Velay 10
  Vortex Motorsport Lola Mugen Honda 27   Heinz-Harald Frentzen All
  Pacific Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 29   Antonio Tamburini All
30   Christian Fittipaldi All
  3001 International Ralt Ford Cosworth 31   Jean-Marc Gounon All
32   Andrea Montermini All
  Il Barone Rampante Reynard Mugen Honda 33   Alessandro Zanardi All
34   Giuseppe Bugatti All
  Junior Team Reynard Judd 35   Vittorio Zoboli 1-8
  Massimo Monti 9
36   Gabriel Furlán All
  Motor Racing Di-Wheels Leyton House Ford Cosworth 38   Fabiano Vandone 1-4
Ralt 5-9
Leyton House 39   Simon Kane 6-7
  Pavesi Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 40   Felice Tedeschi 1-8
  Massimiliano Angelelli 9
  GJ Motorsport Reynard Ford Cosworth 41   Giovanna Amati All
42   Dave Coyne 7
Sources:[4][5]

Calendar edit

Round Circuit Date Laps Distance Time Speed Pole Position Fastest Lap Winner
1   ACI Vallelunga Circuit 14 April 60 3.2=192.0 km 1'06:05.153 174.318 km/h   Christian Fittipaldi   Alessandro Zanardi   Alessandro Zanardi
2   Pau Grand Prix 19 May 73 2.76=201.48 km 1'26:31.24 137.807 km/h   Alessandro Zanardi   Andrea Montermini   Jean-Marc Gounon
3   Circuito de Jerez 9 June 48 4.2179=202.459 km 1'18:15.69 155.221 km/h   Christian Fittipaldi   Christian Fittipaldi   Christian Fittipaldi
4   Mugello Circuit 23 June 38 5.245=199.31 km 1'03:08.380 189.399 km/h   Alessandro Zanardi   Alessandro Zanardi   Alessandro Zanardi
5   Autodromo di Pergusa 7 July 40 4.95=198.0 km 0'59:34.254 199.426 km/h   Emanuele Naspetti   Jean-Marc Gounon   Emanuele Naspetti
6   Hockenheimring 27 July 29 6.801=197.229 km 0'57:19.217 206.480 km/h   Andrea Montermini   Andrea Montermini   Emanuele Naspetti
7   Brands Hatch 18 August 48 4.1846=200.861 km 1'00:26.28 199.40 km/h   Alessandro Zanardi   Emanuele Naspetti   Emanuele Naspetti
8   Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 24 August 29 6.94=201.26 km 1'03:09.82 191.180 km/h   Laurent Aïello   Emanuele Naspetti   Emanuele Naspetti
9   Bugatti Circuit 22 September 45 4.426=199.170 km 1'24:09.87 142.114 km/h   Christian Fittipaldi   Antonio Tamburini   Antonio Tamburini
10   Circuit Paul Armagnac 6 October 55 3.636=199.980 km 1'14:26.15 161.196 km/h   Christian Fittipaldi   Alessandro Zanardi   Christian Fittipaldi
Source:[6]

Final points standings edit

Driver edit

For every race points were awarded: 9 points to the winner, 6 for runner-up, 4 for third place, 3 for fourth place, 2 for fifth place and 1 for sixth place. No additional points were awarded.[7]

Pos Driver VLL
 
PAU
 
JER
 
MUG
 
PER
 
HOC
 
BRH
 
SPA
 
BUG
 
NOG
 
Points
1   Christian Fittipaldi 2 2 1 3 Ret 4 3 Ret 2 1 47
2   Alessandro Zanardi 1 Ret 2 1 Ret Ret 2 2 Ret 2 42
3   Emanuele Naspetti 10 9 DNQ DNS 1 1 1 1 Ret 6 37
4   Antonio Tamburini 3 10 4 7 4 6 5 Ret 1 Ret 22
5   Marco Apicella Ret 4 Ret 2 2 Ret 4 Ret Ret 11 18
6   Jean-Marc Gounon DNQ 1 6 10 6 5 Ret 7 Ret Ret 13
7   Damon Hill 4 Ret 8 Ret 11 Ret 6 Ret 4 3 11
8   Vincenzo Sospiri Ret DNQ 15 4 Ret 2 16 10 Ret 13 9
9   Éric Hélary 11 3 Ret 16† 15 4 Ret 5 9
10   Andrea Montermini Ret Ret 3 11 10 Ret 10 Ret 3 Ret 8
11   Giuseppe Bugatti 5 Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret Ret 16 Ret 7 6
12   Karl Wendlinger 5 Ret 3 Ret Ret 6
13   Fabrizio Giovanardi 12 5 DNQ 8 Ret 13† 8 6 DNS 4 6
14   Heinz-Harald Frentzen Ret Ret 12 6 5 DNQ 12 5 Ret Ret 5
15   Laurent Aïello Ret DNS 7 Ret Ret 7 9 3 Ret Ret 4
16   Allan McNish DNQ 13 DNQ 5 8 Ret Ret 8 Ret 8 2
17   Philippe Gache DNQ 12 10 Ret 9 Ret 11 9 5 Ret 2
18   Alain Menu 6 6 18 12 Ret DNS 2
19   Gabriel Furlán 9 DNQ Ret Ret 7 8 Ret Ret 6 Ret 1
20   David Brabham 7 7 11 9 0
21   Paul Stewart Ret DNQ 16 DNQ 12 Ret 7 14 8 9 0
22   Giovanna Amati DNQ Ret DNQ 14† Ret 9 19 DNQ 7 Ret 0
23   Roberto Colciago 8 11 DNQ Ret Ret DNQ 18 17 Ret Ret 0
24   Michael Bartels DNQ 8 Ret 15 0
25   Andrea Chiesa Ret Ret 9 DNQ Ret 10 14 13 0
26   Paolo Delle Piane Ret DNQ 17 Ret DNQ Ret Ret 15 9 Ret 0
27   David Velay 10 0
28   Peter Zakowski DNQ Ret 11 0
29   Andrew Gilbert-Scott DNQ 11 0
30   Paul Belmondo 14 Ret 14 13 Ret Ret DNQ 12 Ret Ret 0
31   Giovanni Lavaggi DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 12 0
32   Fabiano Vandone DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 12 DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
33   Giovanni Bonanno Ret 13 Ret DNQ Ret 17 Ret DNQ 0
34   Vittorio Zoboli Ret DNQ Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 13 Ret 0
35   Fabrizio Barbazza 13 0
36   Felice Tedeschi 15 DNQ Ret Ret Ret Ret DNQ DNQ 0
  Emmanuel Collard Ret Ret
  Jean-Denis Délétraz DNS DNQ Ret
  Massimo Monti DNQ Ret
  Dave Coyne Ret
  Max Angelelli Ret
  Fernando Plata DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
  Thierry Delubac DNQ DNQ
  Simon Kane DNQ DNQ
  Pascal Witmeur DNQ
Sources:[8][9][10]

Complete Overview edit

first column of every race 10 = grid position
second column of every race 10 = race result

R16=retired, but classified R=retired NS=did not start NQ=did not qualify

Place Name Team Chassis Engine VLL
 
PAU
 
JER
 
MUG
 
PER
 
HOC
 
BRH
 
SPA
 
BUG
 
NOG
 
1   Christian Fittipaldi Pacific Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 1 2 4 2 1 1 4 3 7 R 9 4 6 3 6 R 1 2 1 1
2   Alessandro Zanardi Il Barone Rampante Reynard Mugen Honda 2 1 1 R 2 2 1 1 2 R 4 R 1 2 3 2 3 R 2 2
3   Emanuele Naspetti Forti Corse Lola Ford Cosworth 16 10 15 9 29 NQ
Reynard Ford Cosworth 8 NS 1 1 8 1 3 1 2 1 6 R 14 6
4   Antonio Tamburini Pacific Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 4 3 13 10 3 4 9 7 14 4 10 6 10 5 19 R 2 1 13 R
5   Marco Apicella Paul Stewart Racing Lola Mugen Honda 19 R 6 4 9 R 3 2 3 2 13 R 2 4 15 R 12 R 18 11
6   Jean-Marc Gounon 3001 International Ralt Ford Cosworth 30 NQ 3 1 7 6 25 10 4 6 3 5 16 R 10 7 13 R 12 R
7   Damon Hill Jordan Racing Lola Ford Cosworth 9 4 10 R 15 8 6 R 9 11 7 R 4 6 13 R 10 4
Reynard Ford Cosworth 3 3
8   Vincenzo Sospiri Jordan Racing Lola Ford Cosworth 10 R 25 NQ 19 15 5 4 15 R 5 2 8 16 18 10 14 R 20 13
  Éric Hélary First Racing Reynard Ford Cosworth 14 11 7 3 16 R 17 R16 - - - -
CoBra Motorsports Reynard Ford Cosworth 21 15 5 4 19 R 11 5
10   Andrea Montermini 3001 International Ralt Ford Cosworth 17 R 2 R 4 3 21 11 6 10 1 R 17 10 8 R 16 3 8 R
11   Giuseppe Bugatti Il Barone Rampante Reynard Mugen Honda 7 5 20 R 8 R 2 R 5 3 21 R 5 R 12 16 8 R 5 7
  Karl Wendlinger RSM Marko Reynard Ford Cosworth - - - - 5 5 - - 8 R 2 3 - - 4 R 5 R - -
  Fabrizio Giovanardi Forti Corse Lola Ford Cosworth 23 12 8 5 28 NQ
Reynard Ford Cosworth 15 8 20 R 15 R13 7 8 9 6 26 NS 7 4
14   Heinz-Harald Frentzen Vortex Lola Mugen Honda 6 R 5 R 21 12 7 6 10 5 32 NQ 22 12 7 5 22 R 9 R
15   Laurent Aïello DAMS Lola Mugen Honda 3 R 14 NS 6 7 10 R 13 R 17 7 13 9 1 3 4 R 6 R
16   Alain Menu CoBRa Motorsports Reynard Ford Cosworth 5 6 12 6 12 18 16 12 12 R 12 NS - - - - - - - -
  Allan McNish DAMS Lola Mugen Honda 34 NQ 19 13 27 NQ 12 5 21 8 6 R 11 R 11 8 11 R 17 8
  Philippe Gache Galaxy Racing Lola Ford Cosworth 29 NQ 22 12 18 10 19 R 26 9 20 R 15 11 23 9 20 5
Crypton Engineering Reynard Ford Cosworth 4 R
19   Gabriel Furlán Junior Team Reynard Judd 13 9 28 NQ 20 R 24 R 19 7 24 8 12 R 17 R 18 6 16 R
-   David Brabham Roni Team/Team Ralt Ralt Ford Cosworth 8 7 9 7 22 11 13 9 - - - - - - - - - - - -
-   Paul Stewart Paul Stewart Racing Lola Mugen Honda 24 R 23 NQ 24 16 28 NQ 24 12 18 R 9 7 16 14 17 8 21 9
-   Giovanna Amati GJ Motorsports Reynard Ford Cosworth 28 NQ 21 R 31 NQ 23 R14 18 R 11 9 19 19 28 NQ 25 7 22 R
-   Roberto Colciago Crypton Engineering Reynard Ford Cosworth 11 8 18 11 34 NQ 22 R 17 R 27 NQ 20 18 21 17 9 R 10 R
-   Michael Bartels GA Motorsports Ralt Ford Cosworth 32 NQ
First Racing Reynard Ford Cosworth 11 8 10 R 14 15 - - - - - - - - - - - -
-   Andrea Chiesa Apomatox Reynard Ford Cosworth 20 R 17 R 11 9 30 NQ 11 R 16 10 24 14 22 13 - - - -
-   Paolo Delle Piane CoBRaMotorsports Reynard Ford Cosworth 12 R 31 NQ 26 17 26 R 30 NQ 22 R 23 R 26 15 23 9 19 R
-   David Velay Galaxy Racing Lola Ford Cosworth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24 10
-   Peter Zakowski Crypton Engineering Reynard Ford Cosworth - - - - - - - - - - 29 NQ 25 R 25 11 - - - -
-   Andrew Gilbert-Scott Roni Team/Team Ralt Ralt Ford Cosworth - - - - - - - - 28 NQ 26 11 - - - - - - - -
-   Paul Belmondo Apomatox Reynard Ford Cosworth 25 14 16 R 25 14 11 13 16 R 14 R 27 NQ 20 12 15 R 23 R
-   Giovanni Lavaggi Crypton Engineering Reynard Ford Cosworth 27 NQ 32 NQ 32 NQ 29 NQ 23 R
Roni Team/Team Ralt Ralt Ford Cosworth 30 NQ 28 NQ 27 NQ 27 NQ 25 12
-   Fabiano Vandone Motor Racing Di-Wheels Leyton House Judd 31 NQ
Leyton House Ford Cosworth 34 NQ 33 NQ 32 NQ
Ralt Ford Cosworth 29 NQ 23 12 30 NQ 30 NQ 28 NQ - -
-   Giovanni Bonanno First Racing Reynard Ford Cosworth 22 R - -
BG F3000 Reynard Mugen Honda 23 13 20 R 27 NQ 25 R 26 17 14 R 29 NQ - -
-   Vittorio Zoboli Junior Team Reynard Judd 26 R 27 NQ 17 R 27 NQ 22 R 28 NQ 18 13 24 R - - - -
-   Fabrizio Barbazza Crypton Engineering Reynard Ford Cosworth 18 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-   Felice Tedeschi Pavesi Racing Reynard Mugen Honda 21 15 30 NQ 14 R 18 R 25 R 19 R 29 NQ 29 NQ - - - -
-   Emmanuel Collard Apomatox Reynard Ford Cosworth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7 R 15 R
-   Jean-Denis Délétraz First Racing Reynard Ford Cosworth 15 NS 24 NQ 13 R - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-   Massimo Monti GA Motorsports Ralt Ford Cosworth - - 29 NQ - - - - - - - - - - - -
Junior Team Reynard Judd 21 R - -
-   Dave Coyne GJ Motorsports Reynard Ford Cosworth - - - - - - - - - - - - 14 R - - - - - -
-   Max Angelelli Pavesi Racing Reynard Mugen Honda - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24 R - -
-   Fernando Plata Roni Team/Team Ralt Ralt Ford Cosworth 35 NQ 33 NQ 30 NQ 31 NQ 31 NQ - - - - - - - - - -
-   Thierry Delubac GA Motorsports Ralt Ford Cosworth 33 NQ 26 NQ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-   Simon Kane Motor Racing Di-Wheels Leyton House Ford Cosworth - - - - - - - - - - 31 NQ 31 NQ - - - - - -
-   Pascal Witmeur Crypton Engineering Reynard Ford Cosworth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 NQ - - - -

References edit

  1. ^ L'annee Formule 3000 1992. Drapeau a Damier.
  2. ^ L'annee Formule 3000 1991. Drapeau a Damier.
  3. ^ "The March Story". marchives.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  4. ^ "FIA Formula 3000 Int. Championship - 1991: Entrylist". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  5. ^ "F3000 International Championship Entry List 1991". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  6. ^ "F3000 International Championship Results 1991". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  7. ^ "FIA Formula 3000 Int. Championship - Season 1991: Points standings". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  8. ^ "F3000 International Championship Standings 1991". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  9. ^ "FIA Formula 3000 Int. Championship - Season 1991: Results". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  10. ^ "1991 FIA International F3000 Championship". Motor Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2023.