FEBRUARY 5, 2002

Briscoe confirmed with Nordic

AS we exclusively predicted two weeks ago rising Australian star Ryan Briscoe, the Toyota F1 test driver, will drive for the Nordic Racing team in Formula 3000 this season. Briscoe moves straight into F3000 from a successful season with the Italian Formula Renault series.

Briscoe is expected to be drafted into the Toyota team in either 2003 or 2004 and the F3000 program will give him the chance to learn all the major F1 circuits as all the F3000 races take place alongside a Grand Prix. It was decided that this was a much more effective way of developing Briscoe than a year in British Formula 3.

Toyota has also confirmed that its other proteges France's Franck Perera and Sweden's Alex Storckenfeldt will team up with the Prema Powerteam in the Italian Formula Renault series. The two 17-year-olds both come from successful careers in kart racing.