The 1991 Formula 3000 International Championship was the seventh season of Formula 3000 in Europe. Christian Fittipaldi won the championship after ten rounds.

Technical changes

A major technical change for 1991 was the introduction by Avon of radial-ply tyres. Compared to the previous crossply tyres, these could be more consistently manufactured, and made the cars more consistent aerodynamically, but gave the drivers less control at high slip angles.

Lola's T91/50 chassis was an evolution of the previous year's championship-winning T90/50, and retained a very short wheelbase of 263.0 cm (103.5 in). By comparison, the Reynard 91D had a wheelbase of 277.5 cm (109.3 in). The short wheelbase of the Lola was blamed for its inability to perform on the new tyres, and the Forti Corse team switched to Reynards after three rounds. The Eddie Jordan Racing team attempted to lengthen its Lolas by adding a spacer in between the engine and gearbox, but eventually it too purchased a Reynard for Damon Hill.

The Ralt name, last seen in F3000 in 1988, returned after being split off from the March Group.

Season summary

Alessandro Zanardi won for the new Il Barone Rampante team at the first race at Vallelunga. Jean-Marc Gounon then took Ralt's last F3000 win at Pau. Christian Fittipaldi won at Jerez, and Zanardi won again at Mugello.

Gounon won on the road at Enna, but he was controversially adjudged to have jumped the start. The race win was given to Emanuele Naspetti, who was making his first start in a Reynard after his Forti team had switched from Lolas. Naspetti then won the following three races at Hockenheim, Brands Hatch and Spa-Francorchamps. His success was blamed in part on the exotic fuel blend provided by Agip, which would be banned the following year.

Fittipaldi's Pacific teammate Antonio Tamburini won on the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans. In the finale at Nogaro, Fittipaldi beat title rival Zanardi for the race win and the championship.

Drivers and constructors

TeamChassisEngineNo.DriverRounds
France DAMSLolaMugen Honda1United Kingdom Allan McNishAll
2France Laurent AïelloAll
United Kingdom GA MotorsportRaltFord Cosworth3Germany Michael Bartels1
Italy Massimo Monti2
4France Thierry Delubac1-2
Italy BFG 3000ReynardMugen Honda4Italy Giovanni Bonanno3-9
Italy First RacingReynardFord Cosworth5Italy Giovanni Bonanno1
Germany Michael Bartels2-4
6Switzerland Jean-Denis Délétraz1-3
7France Éric Hélary1-4
United Kingdom Paul Stewart RacingLolaMugen Honda8Italy Marco ApicellaAll
9United Kingdom Paul StewartAll
Italy Forti CorseLolaFord Cosworth11Italy Emanuele Naspetti1-3
Reynard4-10
Lola12Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi1-3
Reynard4-10
United Kingdom Eddie Jordan RacingLolaFord Cosworth14United Kingdom Damon Hill1-9
Reynard10
Lola15Italy Vincenzo SospiriAll
United Kingdom Roni MotorsportRaltFord Cosworth16Mexico Fernando Plata1-5
Italy Giovanni Lavaggi6-10
17Australia David Brabham1-4
United Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-Scott5-6
France ApomatoxReynardFord Cosworth18France Paul BelmondoAll
19Switzerland Andrea Chiesa1-8
France Emmanuel Collard9-10
Italy Crypton EngineeringReynardFord Cosworth20Italy Roberto ColciagoAll
21Italy Fabrizio Barbazza1
Belgium Pascal Witmeur8
France Philippe Gache10
22Italy Giovanni Lavaggi1-5
Germany Peter Zakowski6-8
United Kingdom CoBRa MotorsportsReynardFord Cosworth23Italy Paolo Delle PianeAll
24Switzerland Alain Menu1-6
France Éric Hélary7-10
Austria RSM MarkoReynardFord Cosworth25Austria Karl Wendlinger3, 5-6, 8-9
France Galaxy RacingReynardFord Cosworth26France Philippe Gache1-9
France David Velay10
Netherlands Vortex MotorsportLolaMugen Honda27Germany Heinz-Harald FrentzenAll
United Kingdom Pacific RacingReynardMugen Honda29Italy Antonio TamburiniAll
30Brazil Christian FittipaldiAll
United Kingdom 3001 InternationalRaltFord Cosworth31France Jean-Marc GounonAll
32Italy Andrea MonterminiAll
Italy Il Barone RampanteReynardMugen Honda33Italy Alessandro ZanardiAll
34Italy Giuseppe BugattiAll
Italy Junior TeamReynardJudd35Italy Vittorio Zoboli1-8
Italy Massimo Monti9
36Argentina Gabriel FurlánAll
Italy Motor Racing Di-WheelsLeyton HouseFord Cosworth38Italy Fabiano Vandone1-4
Ralt5-9
Leyton House39Australia Simon Kane6-7
Italy Pavesi RacingReynardMugen Honda40Italy Felice Tedeschi1-8
Italy Massimiliano Angelelli9
United Kingdom GJ MotorsportReynardFord Cosworth41Italy Giovanna AmatiAll
42United Kingdom Dave Coyne7
Sources:

Calendar

RoundCircuitDateLapsDistanceTimeSpeedPole positionFastest lapWinner
1Italy ACI Vallelunga Circuit14 April603.2=192.0 km1'06:05.153174.318 km/hBrazil Christian FittipaldiItaly Alessandro ZanardiItaly Alessandro Zanardi
2France Pau Grand Prix19 May732.76=201.48 km1'26:31.24137.807 km/hItaly Alessandro ZanardiItaly Andrea MonterminiFrance Jean-Marc Gounon
3Spain Circuito de Jerez9 June484.2179=202.459 km1'18:15.69155.221 km/hBrazil Christian FittipaldiBrazil Christian FittipaldiBrazil Christian Fittipaldi
4Italy Mugello Circuit23 June385.245=199.31 km1'03:08.380189.399 km/hItaly Alessandro ZanardiItaly Alessandro ZanardiItaly Alessandro Zanardi
5Italy Autodromo di Pergusa7 July404.95=198.0 km0'59:34.254199.426 km/hItaly Emanuele NaspettiFrance Jean-Marc GounonItaly Emanuele Naspetti
6Germany Hockenheimring27 July296.801=197.229 km0'57:19.217206.480 km/hItaly Andrea MonterminiItaly Andrea MonterminiItaly Emanuele Naspetti
7United Kingdom Brands Hatch18 August484.1846=200.861 km1'00:26.28199.40 km/hItaly Alessandro ZanardiItaly Emanuele NaspettiItaly Emanuele Naspetti
8Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps24 August296.94=201.26 km1'03:09.82191.180 km/hFrance Laurent AïelloItaly Emanuele NaspettiItaly Emanuele Naspetti
9France Bugatti Circuit22 September454.426=199.170 km1'24:09.87142.114 km/hBrazil Christian FittipaldiItaly Antonio TamburiniItaly Antonio Tamburini
10France Circuit Paul Armagnac6 October553.636=199.980 km1'14:26.15161.196 km/hBrazil Christian FittipaldiItaly Alessandro ZanardiBrazil Christian Fittipaldi
Source:

Final points standings

Driver

For every race points were awarded: 9 points to the winner, 6 for runner-up, 4 for third place, 3 for fourth place, 2 for fifth place and 1 for sixth place. No additional points were awarded.

PosDriverVLL ItalyPAU FranceJER SpainMUG ItalyPER ItalyHOC GermanyBRH United KingdomSPA BelgiumBUG FranceNOG FrancePoints
1Brazil Christian Fittipaldi2213Ret43Ret2147
2Italy Alessandro Zanardi1Ret21RetRet22Ret242
3Italy Emanuele Naspetti109DNQDNS1111Ret637
4Italy Antonio Tamburini31047465Ret1Ret22
5Italy Marco ApicellaRet4Ret22Ret4RetRet1118
6France Jean-Marc GounonDNQ161065Ret7RetRet13
7United Kingdom Damon Hill4Ret8Ret11Ret6Ret4311
8Italy Vincenzo SospiriRetDNQ154Ret21610Ret139
9France Éric Hélary113Ret16†154Ret59
10Italy Andrea MonterminiRetRet31110Ret10Ret3Ret8
11Italy Giuseppe Bugatti5RetRetRet3RetRet16Ret76
12Austria Karl Wendlinger5Ret3RetRet6
13Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi125DNQ8Ret13†86DNS46
14Germany Heinz-Harald FrentzenRetRet1265DNQ125RetRet5
15France Laurent AïelloRetDNS7RetRet793RetRet4
16United Kingdom Allan McNishDNQ13DNQ58RetRet8Ret82
17France Philippe GacheDNQ1210Ret9Ret1195Ret2
18Switzerland Alain Menu661812RetDNS2
19Argentina Gabriel Furlán9DNQRetRet78RetRet6Ret1
20Australia David Brabham771190
21United Kingdom Paul StewartRetDNQ16DNQ12Ret714890
22Italy Giovanna AmatiDNQRetDNQ14†Ret919DNQ7Ret0
23Italy Roberto Colciago811DNQRetRetDNQ1817RetRet0
24Germany Michael BartelsDNQ8Ret150
25Switzerland Andrea ChiesaRetRet9DNQRet1014130
26Italy Paolo Delle PianeRetDNQ17RetDNQRetRet159Ret0
27France David Velay100
28Germany Peter ZakowskiDNQRet110
29United Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottDNQ110
30France Paul Belmondo14Ret1413RetRetDNQ12RetRet0
31Italy Giovanni LavaggiDNQDNQDNQDNQRetDNQDNQDNQDNQ120
32Italy Fabiano VandoneDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ12DNQDNQDNQ0
33Italy Giovanni BonannoRet13RetDNQRet17RetDNQ0
34Italy Vittorio ZoboliRetDNQRetDNQRetDNQ13Ret0
35Italy Fabrizio Barbazza130
36Italy Felice Tedeschi15DNQRetRetRetRetDNQDNQ0
France Emmanuel CollardRetRet
Switzerland Jean-Denis DélétrazDNSDNQRet
Italy Massimo MontiDNQRet
United Kingdom Dave CoyneRet
Italy Max AngelelliRet
Mexico Fernando PlataDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ
Belgium Thierry DelubacDNQDNQ
Australia Simon KaneDNQDNQ
Belgium Pascal WitmeurDNQ
Sources:

Complete Overview

first column of every race10= grid position
second column of every race10= race result

R16=retired, but classified R=retired NS=did not start NQ=did not qualify

PlaceNameTeamChassisEngineVLL ItalyPAU FranceJER SpainMUG ItalyPER ItalyHOC GermanyBRH United KingdomSPA BelgiumBUG FranceNOG France
1Brazil Christian FittipaldiPacific RacingReynardMugen Honda124211437R94636R1211
2Italy Alessandro ZanardiIl Barone RampanteReynardMugen Honda211R22112R4R12323R22
3Italy Emanuele NaspettiForti CorseLolaFord Cosworth161015929NQ
ReynardFord Cosworth8NS118131216R146
4Italy Antonio TamburiniPacific RacingReynardMugen Honda431310349714410610519R2113R
5Italy Marco ApicellaPaul Stewart RacingLolaMugen Honda19R649R323213R2415R12R1811
6France Jean-Marc Gounon3001 InternationalRaltFord Cosworth30NQ31762510463516R10713R12R
7United Kingdom Damon HillJordan RacingLolaFord Cosworth9410R1586R9117R4613R104
ReynardFord Cosworth33
8Italy Vincenzo SospiriJordan RacingLolaFord Cosworth10R25NQ19155415R52816181014R2013
France Éric HélaryFirst RacingReynardFord Cosworth14117316R17R16----
CoBra MotorsportsReynardFord Cosworth21155419R115
10Italy Andrea Montermini3001 InternationalRaltFord Cosworth17R2R4321116101R17108R1638R
11Italy Giuseppe BugattiIl Barone RampanteReynardMugen Honda7520R8R2R5321R5R12168R57
Austria Karl WendlingerRSM MarkoReynardFord Cosworth----55--8R23--4R5R--
Italy Fabrizio GiovanardiForti CorseLolaFord Cosworth23128528NQ
ReynardFord Cosworth15820R15R13789626NS74
14Germany Heinz-Harald FrentzenVortexLolaMugen Honda6R5R21127610532NQ22127522R9R
15France Laurent AïelloDAMSLolaMugen Honda3R14NS6710R13R177139134R6R
16Switzerland Alain MenuCoBRa MotorsportsReynardFord Cosworth561261218161212R12NS--------
United Kingdom Allan McNishDAMSLolaMugen Honda34NQ191327NQ1252186R11R11811R178
France Philippe GacheGalaxy RacingLolaFord Cosworth29NQ2212181019R26920R1511239205
Crypton EngineeringReynardFord Cosworth4R
19Argentina Gabriel FurlánJunior TeamReynardJudd13928NQ20R24R19724812R17R18616R
-Australia David BrabhamRoni Team/Team RaltRaltFord Cosworth87972211139------------
-United Kingdom Paul StewartPaul Stewart RacingLolaMugen Honda24R23NQ241628NQ241218R971614178219
-Italy Giovanna AmatiGJ MotorsportsReynardFord Cosworth28NQ21R31NQ23R1418R119191928NQ25722R
-Italy Roberto ColciagoCrypton EngineeringReynardFord Cosworth118181134NQ22R17R27NQ201821179R10R
-Germany Michael BartelsGA MotorsportsRaltFord Cosworth32NQ
First RacingReynardFord Cosworth11810R1415------------
-Switzerland Andrea ChiesaApomatoxReynardFord Cosworth20R17R11930NQ11R161024142213----
-Italy Paolo Delle PianeCoBRaMotorsportsReynardFord Cosworth12R31NQ261726R30NQ22R23R261523919R
-France David VelayGalaxy RacingLolaFord Cosworth------------------2410
-Germany Peter ZakowskiCrypton EngineeringReynardFord Cosworth----------29NQ25R2511----
-United Kingdom Andrew Gilbert-ScottRoni Team/Team RaltRaltFord Cosworth--------28NQ2611--------
-France Paul BelmondoApomatoxReynardFord Cosworth251416R2514111316R14R27NQ201215R23R
-Italy Giovanni LavaggiCrypton EngineeringReynardFord Cosworth27NQ32NQ32NQ29NQ23R
Roni Team/Team RaltRaltFord Cosworth30NQ28NQ27NQ27NQ2512
-Italy Fabiano VandoneMotor Racing Di-WheelsLeyton HouseJudd31NQ
Leyton HouseFord Cosworth34NQ33NQ32NQ
RaltFord Cosworth29NQ231230NQ30NQ28NQ--
-Italy Giovanni BonannoFirst RacingReynardFord Cosworth22R--
BG F3000ReynardMugen Honda231320R27NQ25R261714R29NQ--
-Italy Vittorio ZoboliJunior TeamReynardJudd26R27NQ17R27NQ22R28NQ181324R----
-Italy Fabrizio BarbazzaCrypton EngineeringReynardFord Cosworth1813------------------
-Italy Felice TedeschiPavesi RacingReynardMugen Honda211530NQ14R18R25R19R29NQ29NQ----
-France Emmanuel CollardApomatoxReynardFord Cosworth----------------7R15R
-Switzerland Jean-Denis DélétrazFirst RacingReynardFord Cosworth15NS24NQ13R--------------
-Italy Massimo MontiGA MotorsportsRaltFord Cosworth--29NQ------------
Junior TeamReynardJudd21R--
-United Kingdom Dave CoyneGJ MotorsportsReynardFord Cosworth------------14R------
-Italy Max AngelelliPavesi RacingReynardMugen Honda----------------24R--
-Mexico Fernando PlataRoni Team/Team RaltRaltFord Cosworth35NQ33NQ30NQ31NQ31NQ----------
-Belgium Thierry DelubacGA MotorsportsRaltFord Cosworth33NQ26NQ----------------
-Australia Simon KaneMotor Racing Di-WheelsLeyton HouseFord Cosworth----------31NQ31NQ------
-Belgium Pascal WitmeurCrypton EngineeringReynardFord Cosworth--------------31NQ----