Wednesday May 3rd, 2000

British F3 championship leader, Antonio Pizzonia, will test for Benetton next week - reports claimed today. The young Brazilian was linked with Benetton last week in a report on The Sun, claiming that Benetton are eager to sign Pizzonia for the 2001 season, instead of Austrian Alex Wurz. However, Benetton promptly denied the reports, claiming the team had no ties with Pizzonia.

None the less, reports in the British press today claim the Brazilian will test for three days at Jerez next week. Furthermore, if the test goes well the 19 year-old will sign a deal with Benetton to become its test driver. In an interview for "Motoring News" Pizzonia said: "Jenson Button has definitely opened the door as far as young drivers are concerned. He has made people take notice of how good F3 drivers can be.

"I don't think the move from F3 to F1 is that great. People were worried when Jenson came into F1 because it had been such a long time since anyone has gone straight there from F3. But F3000 is so different from F1 that the preparation it gives is no better than the grounding you get in F3."