Preview: Goosens in, Nordic fired up

After a three-week break and with just three races of the season still to go, the F3000 teams are ready for the final push as hey head to Hungary for round 10 of the series. Along with championship rivals Justin Wilson and Mark Webber, Goosens will also be taking to the track this weekend.

The F3000 veteran made his debut in the category seven years ago and he is to replace Rodrigo Sperafico at the Coloni Racing team for the remainder of this season following a new sponsorship deal for the Italian team with energy drink Rocket Fuel.

"Even when I was bedding in the brakes I could feel there was a problem with the car," said Goosens, who drove the Coloni Lola at Magione in Italy last week. "I told them what was wrong and they fixed it."

While the 31-year-old returns to the series for the first time this year, after competing in the final four races of 2000, championship leader Wilson is eager to get things back under way.

The Nordic Racing ace is currently 10 points ahead of closest rival Webber. Wilson has an impressive qualifying record so far this season and is hoping to fair well at the tight Hungaroring track, where a good grid position is key to success.

"I cannot wait," said Wilson. "The break has been nice, but I really want to get back into the car and continue with my championship fight. Last year I qualified second, so that has to be the least of my aims for this year. If I can qualify well, then I shall be looking for my third win of the season."

Webber, on the other hand, has not won a race since Magny-Cours at the beginning of July and the Super Nova star needs to beat Wilson this weekend if he is to stay in contention. The Australian will also have Tomas Enge to contend with in the second Nordic Lola, who trails him by just three points in the standings.

Petrobras Jr driver Antonio Pizzonia took his debut F3000 victory last time out in Germany and has gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed. The Brazilian's win moved him into fourth place in the championship and he will be keen to maintain his momentum this weekend, but has never raced at the Budapest circuit before.

Other driver changes for this weekend include Antonio Garcia, who is in at the Italian Durango team in place of Jaime Melo. Garcia started the season with the Red Bull Jr team, but lost his seat to Ricardo Mauricio. The Spaniard has been given a second chance by Durango following a string of lacklustre performances from Melo.

Norberto Fontana is also to make a return to the series as the seventh driver to get behind the wheel of a Prost Jr car. The Argentinian is taking the seat of talented Prost Formula 1 test driver Jonathan Cochet, further fuelling rumours surrounding the team's financial stability.

Goosens can expect something of a baptism of fire this weekend and despite his wealth of F3000 experience he will do well to overthrow the current reign Nordic dominance.

"We are going to Hungary with the bit between our teeth," said Nordic team manager Chris Mower. "It is amazing how everyone in the team is focused on winning the teams' and drivers' Championships - we must wreak of team spirit."