F3000 Italia Round 6: Donington Park (GB), 6th August 2000

Warren Hughes (Arden Team Russia), in his home race, qualified in third, desperate to retake the series lead he lost at Vallelunga. He would start alongside Manuel Giao (Monaco Motorsport). "Babalus" (First GP) was fifth, the pseudonymed Italian proving consistently quick throughout the season. Gabriele Lancieri (Sighinolfi), the man who took the points lead in round 5, could do no better than 11th in qualifying when he and the team failed to find a set-up. Mark Shaw, expected to race for Edenbridge at the start of the year before driver and team pulled out, made his series return with the Da Vinci squad. In a one-off drive he occupied the number 1 car recently driven by Tomas Scheckter and reigning champion Giorgio Vinella. The polesitter here in 1999, this year the Scot could only qualify 15th, three places behind team-mate Derek Hill. Neither driver could find grip on Donington's billiard table-smooth track surface.

Ricardo Sperafico took a controlled victory at Donington to take the lead in the championship. The Brazilian was never headed during the race and was able to resist the pressure of title rival Warren Hughes. Ricardo made a poor start with wheelspin, but nevertheless held off a fast-starting Hughes to hold his line into Redgate. Hughes had passed Rodrigo Sperafico into the corner, but was unable to get by Ricardo. Behind them on the straight Andrej Pavicevic (Durango Benetton Junior) and Angelo Lancelotti (First GP) apparently collided, the white car of the Italian being spun round by the Aussie's sky blue Lola.

The leading Sperafico soon got into a rhythm and held off Hughes, despite the Geordie chasing him in the early laps. Sperafico ran wide at the end of lap 1, but it was not enough to give Hughes a real opportunity. From then on Sperafico managed to open up a gap of about 1.5 seconds, and would eventually cross the line 2 seconds ahead of Hughes. It was a drive made all the more impressive as he had a gearbox problem which made changing from 3rd to 4th difficult.

Hughes' opportunity to attack came after a safety car period. In their fight for sixth place, "Babalus" and Gianluca Calcagni collided at Goddards, only for Luca Vacis to be caught out and spin to avoid the chaos. At the restart however Sperafico simply pulled away from Hughes, who then had to contend with the Monaco Motorsport car of Manuel Giao. The Portuguese had taken third from Rodrigo Sperafico at Goddards and was putting pressure on Hughes for second. Hughes held off the black car until the end, crossing the line just 7 tenths ahead. Once passed by Giao, Rodrigo Sperafico continued to hold fourth until the chequered flag, a disappointing finish after qualifying alongside the race winner.

Before the safety car period points leader Gabriele Lancieri had been making progress, only to find himself dropping behind Derek Hill (Da Vinci) and Sascha Bert (Sighinolfi) when he was held up in the confusion at Goddards. After the restart the Italian repassed the two cars, but could not pass Thomas Biagi (GP Racing) for fifth. Lancieri therefore salvaged just one point for sixth after his poor qualifying. Biagi had earlier come under pressure from Hill at the restart. The American chased him through the first corner and the Craner Curves, but ran wide on the exit and dropped back. Bert, having passed Hill, took seventh at the end of the race. Mark Shaw then closed up on team-mate Hill and would finish ninth, just 0.5s behind. Michele Spoldi, in his second drive for Durango Benetton Junior, rounded off the top 10.

The on-form Ricardo Sperafico therefore took the championship lead from Lancieri, but the title battle is wide open with just 5 points separating the lead trio of Sperafico, Hughes and Lancieri. Hughes, happy with his second place at Donington, maintains second in the championship and is confident of his title chances: "We should have a good set-up for a fast circuit like Enna. It's all to play for." Also confident of continuing his strong form is Sperafico: "The team has worked hard and we know what to do at Enna and Misano."

The next race is at Enna-Pergusa on September 3rd, although teams and some of the drivers will be heading to Assen on the 20th August for a non-championship race on the Dutch circuit. The race will be included in the championship in the future.

QUALIFYING:

(All cars Lola T96/50-Zytek)

RACE RESULT:

Key: R=Retired. (All cars Lola T96/50-Zytek)

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: