New F3 star linked with Benetton

Last week, rumours abounded that Alex Wurz was due to be replaced by Antonio Pizzonia, who currently leads the British F3 championship, though nothing seems to have come of this.

Pantano, who won the season opener in this year's German F3 championship, completed 12 laps of the Jerez circuit yesterday, and was last overall, some four seconds off the pace of regular drivers Wurz and Giancarlo Fisichella.

However, Pantano was only a second slower than next slowest runner Patrick Lemarie who was testing for BAR.

Wurz's recent disappointing form has led to speculation that he may be replaced at the end of the year - a suggestion that Benetton's continued interest in drivers coming up through the ranks does nothing to dispel.

The trend of taking drivers straight from F3 to F1 has increased this year due to WilliamsF1's decision to run Jenson Button. Pantano raced against Button when the two were in karts.