Leinders to Start F3 Team

The Belgian driver has joined forces with 17 year-old countryman Michael Herck, who has been racing for his own Junior Racing Team in selected British F3 International Series rounds this season. Herck will be the team's lead driver and another driver will be announced before next season.

The new team will be known as the Bas Leinders Junior Racing Team and has secured a supply of Mercedes HWA engines for the assault.

Leinders, 1998 German F3 champion, has started the team to help young Belgian drivers on the road to Formula One. He has promised that it will not mean an end to his driving career.

"I have been playing with the idea to start a team for a couple of years now, to help young Belgian drivers and give them more chances to get into F1," Leinders said. "Now I have the perfect opportunity to do all this. But it doesn't mean I will put an end to my driving career, in the contrary, my management is working hard to try and get a seat in the Champ Car World Series soon."

Herck, who finished 12th and 13th at the Nurburgring last weekend, has promised not to let Leinders down.

"I will give the best of myself not to shame Bas' confidence in me," Herck said. "It is fantastic to be able to work together with Bas. He has tremendous experience in motor racing. I hope that thanks to his help I can progress and step into his feet."