Top 5 F3000 drivers:1985-95

Determining the best Formula 3000 drivers is an inherently subjective task. Statistics are useful to a point but can’t be relied on fully, since drivers who became champion at the first attempt and graduated directly to Formula 1 have fewer wins or poles than those who accumulated results over several years. We’ve attempted to find a middle ground for our ranking. Spare a thought for Jean-Marc Gounon who, as the only non-Reynard winner in 1991 and ’92, made a compelling case for inclusion.

5. Christian Fittipaldi

Superior reliability helped him see off Alex Zanardi for the 1991 title, but earning more poles (4-3) than the Italian is nothing to sniff at. Two wins in Pacific’s Reynard and relentless points-scoring allowed the rookie to profit from favoured contenders being hamstrung by Lola woes.

4. Luca Badoer

You can’t argue with his record 40% hit-rate in F3000. The runaway champion in 1992, rookie Badoer was almost unstoppable after his Crypton Reynard-Cosworth was fitted with monoshock front suspension, scoring five podiums (including four wins) from the last seven races.

3. Érik Comas

The most prolific driver of the open era with six wins was only beaten on a tiebreak by Reynard rival Jean Alesi in 1989 (three wins to two), then went one better returning with DAMS in 1990. He earnt Lola’s first title in the edgy T90/50 that many struggled with.

2. Roberto Moreno

Pips Comas as best non-rookie champion because regular misfortune denied him the 1987 title. The experienced Brazilian, an F2 race winner in 1984, lost three likely victories to Ralt unreliability but was Reynard’s deserved champion in 1988 with four wins. Dijon engine failure cost another success.

1. Stefano Modena

Earns top spot as a rookie champion and winner in just his second race, in a finely poised 1987 campaign against Lola and Ralt. Nobody else consistently got a tune from the tricky March 87B, but Modena triumphed three times despite never managing a pole position.