1999/2000 Season Preview |
by Mike Hogg
As the clock ticks down to the traditional start of the three series
championship, a number of changes have taken place in terms of rules,
teams and drivers for the seventh running of the IAF1GPC.
In the Ace Championship, the most notable absence will be that of title winners Digitech and Michal Janak who have both retired after extremely successful careers. As it happens, the administration of the Championship has been taken over by ex-Digitech boss Oliver Roberts following the chaos of the previous season. Jan Svehlik returns in the Bolgani (No Wild 13 involvement this year) and he has to be odds on title favourite following his dominant second half of last season. Marco Saupe has set up his own team following the loss of Digitech and has hired rookie driver Kai Weber, a fellow German, to race the Typhoon F1 car. Due to racing commitments in America, Saupe will only occasionally drive a second car for the team.
The other Digitech refugee Mirko Patzenbein will also return, driving for Arado this season. Yapamotox will be a formidable team this time around, Rafal Ziarnik and Tomasz Bielawski again teaming up.
Team Ecosse withdrew from the Championship midway through last season but the name has found a new home with Mike Hogg's MSP Engine Developments concern for this year. The team took fastest time on the first 2 days of testing in Barcelona and 2nd fastest time overall. A good bet to ride high in the points will be Nuno Maltez, returning once again in the Rocketship. He set fastest time overall at the pre-season tests. Commentator's nightmare Tom Neilson will also return in the Graton Grand Prix to add fireworks to the racing. Scott Dryden will also return, racing in selected races in his privately entered Ultratrack F1.
Newcomers to the series at time of writing will be Anthony Long - driving for Australian team Potato Racers, Thomas Bodlien in the Power Tech, Stephen Wallace for Futuretech Racing and the mysterious German Racetec squad.
In the Pro Championship, Olivier Leroy will return to defend his crown in the Cyber Speed and will be a good bet for the series. Players Racing has become British Canadian Racing for this year and the experianced Mario Sarno who lost out on his chance to fight for glory in the championship due to injuries received in Monaco will be joined by rookie Mark Butler. GJM Racing returns with Gary McCandless at the wheel while Michael Kane also makes a return with NI Racing. New team Powerecoil-2000 will be led by Robert Wilson.
For the Beginner series Kevin Walker returns to defend his title once again with GMC Racing while BCR will be represented by his close rival Adam Stevens who will be hungry to go one higher than the second he achieved last season. Stephen Thornber has defected from GMC to BCR this time around. Ex Ace series driver Wagner Amaral and Donald Millican round out the pre-season entry list.