Italy target at least two wins

The team scored their first podium at the last round at Dubai with Enrico Toccacelo, and despite Team France's dominance, the Team Ghinzani-run squad are bullish about their chances of beating the all-conquering French squad when the series resumes at Durban at the end of the month.

Team boss Piercarlo Ghinzani has recruited F3000 Proseries racer Max Busnelli to the team for testing at the South African street race.

Ghinzani told Autosprint: "At Durban we'll put Max Busnelli to the test in the Friday testing session and we'll decide who races based on the laptimes. I'm absolutely happy about Toccacelo's performances and speed however.

"We joined this series at the last possible moment, without carrying out any testing, and this had its weight. Setting up the car had not been easy and Toccacelo, helped by our technician Massimo del Prete, did an excellent job.

"Now I can realistically say that, having reached the season's mid point, we have reasonable chances of winning at least two of the remaining twelve races."

Former F3000 front-runner Toccacelo backed his team bosses' claim. He said: "With the right set up we now have, we are potential winners now. For me it's important to get positive exposure, since I'm thinking of a future in the USA, with a test to do in Champ Car."