Grapevine: Fisichella Sets Up Own Team

Renault ace Giancarlo Fisichella has confirmed he will move into the field of team management after setting up his own outfit to compete in the Italian F3000 championship this year.

Fisichella Motor Sport have entrusted the respected Durango outfit to run the team in the series, with the Italian star linking-up with his manager Enrico Zanarini.

The team will primarily be used as a means of promoting rising Italian driving talent, with their 2005 driver line-up and sponsor portfolio due to be announced on March 23.

Speaking about his new venture, Fisichella said: "I have founded this team above all in order to help young Italian drivers to become part of a competitive atmosphere at a high level. Italian F3000 is just the first step; I will follow my interests to GP2, the category that replaced International F3000, in the near future."

Despite the new team, however, the Renault driver has made it clear that his focus on trying to win the F1 World Championship this year will not suffer.

"I will go to the track when I am free from duties in F1," he added. "This is why I have entrusted the technical role to Durango, a team which knows this type of single-seater and guarantees performance and reliability."

Zanarini will focus on the marketing and commercial aspects of the team â€" as well as help choose the Italian drivers who will be backed by the outfit.