2004 EuroBOSS Champion Scott Mansell made his F3000 debut for John Village Automotive at Imola in the second round of the Italian F3000 Pro series on Sunday. Although unfamiliar with the car and track, he was fifth fastest in the first practice session on used tyres which underlined the great potential of the British teenager.

Torrential rain and a drenched Imola circuit compromised qualifying, with Scott suffering from running a heavy fuel load in the first session in an attempt to learn the characteristics of the car. After just three timed laps at the start of the second session and without much warning, the heavens opened again and torrential rain and lighting put an end to the session, with a tree on the infield catching fire! Scott finished the day ninth on the grid of sixteen starters.

It was dry and clear for Sunday afternoon's race with Mansell slipping back to tenth after a poor start off the line. As Siedler led, Scott put the hammer down to reclaim ninth and battle ADM driver Ippoliti for eighth, diving up the inside on the brakes into Tosa before running wide on the exit and successfully defending up the hill into Piratella.

A few laps later there was more drama for Mansell as he put the car sideways through the second chicane, losing ten seconds and putting him back into clutches of Belluardo, who seizing the opportunity passed Mansell coming out of Tosa. Mansell fought back and got the better line coming out of Acque Minerali, taking the place back going into Varaiante Alta. Mansell continued to pull away from Belluardo and crossed the finish line in a very creditable sixth place and in the points on his debut F3000 race.

"With having done so little running and the changing weather conditions" commented Mansell, "I was guessing a little which way to go with the set-up and in the race the balance was not good from the start, giving me too much oversteer, which hurt us in the slow corners. I also found I couldn't brake deep into the corners and couldn't use that much curb, which is important at Imola"

"To be in the points from my first experience of F3000 was a good result but I know I could have done better with more track time to work on set-up but the monsoon conditions in qualifying really compromised our weekend. Team JVA were very professional and great to work with and I hope we can find the budget to be on the grid at the next round at Spa"

The next round of the F3000 Pro series is at Spa in Belgium on June 12th.