Durango returns with Melo

The 21-year-old raced alongside Junqueira for the Petrobras team last year and while his Brazilian fellow countryman took the title, Melo scored just six points.

Melo's contract with the Norfolk-based team was not renewed, so he has secured a drive with Durango, which returns to the international series after spending time out in the Italian championship. He impressed the Italian outfit during a test at Barcelona in October.

The chase for the remaining 2001 seats is firmly on, and competition between the teams for the cream of available talent is rife. With British Formula 3 champion Antonio Pizzonia and F3000 Italia winner Ricardo Sperafico confirmed at Petrobras, and Indonesian Ananda Mikola signed to drive alongside German F3 champ Giorgio Pantano at Astromega, the majority of the top seats are already taken.

A drive remains available with the crack Super Nova squad, but the team is believed to have a shortlist from which a team mate for Benetton F1 test driver Mark Weber will be chosen.

Belgian David Saelens, who drove for Super Nova last year, and French Formula 3 champion Jonathan Cochet are both thought to be on the list. An announcement is expected within the next fortnight.