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The series remained unchanged for about a decade, but increasing costs meant the popularity of the series was waning by the mid 1990s.

In 1996, new rules were introduced. These introduced a single engine (a detuned Judd V-8 engine, badged as a Zytek) and chassis (Lola), to go along with tyre standarization (Avon) introduced a number of years earlier. The following year the calendar was combined with that of Formula One, so the series became support races for the Grand Prix. These measure decreased the costs and popularity grew. In 2000, the series was restricted to 15 teams of two cars each.

However, by 2002 expenses were once more very high and the number of entries rapidly dwindled. Formula 3000 was experiencing tough competition with cheaper formulae, such as European F3000 (using ex-FIA Lola B2/99 chassis) and Formula Nissan (also known as Telefonica World Series or Superfund World Series), as well as the North American CART series. While drivers from these series such as Juan Pablo Montoya (CART), Christiano da Matta (CART), and Felipe Massa (EF3000) found top rides in Formula One, the F3000 drivers seemed to have inordinate difficulty in moving onwards. By the end of 2003, car counts had fallen to new lows.

The 2004 season is scheduled to be the last F3000 campaign, due in part to dwindling field sizes. Formula GP2 , with RenaultRenault S. is a French vehicle manufacturer producing small to upper-midsize cars, vans, buses and trucks. Renault is properly pronounced "Rhen-oh" but some people incorrectly pronounce it "Reh-nought". Renault is known for car concepts like the Renault 1 backing, was proposed in early 2004 as a replacement formula, but FIA claims to have no official replacement planned as of yet.

Champions

Over the years, the following drivers have become champion:

• 1985 Christian Danner (BS Automotive March - Cosworth), West GermanyWest Germany was the informal but almost universally used name for the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 until 1990, during which years the Federal Republic did not yet include the eastern part of Germany. Since the German reunification of 1990, the F
• 19861986 is a common year starting on Wednesday. Events January January 1 Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 After losing a pa Ivan CapelliIvan Capelli: performer F-1 driver, born in Milan, Italy, on May 24, 1963. He began as karts driver when He was 15 years old, and after 4 years He moving to the Italian Formula 3 Championship. In 1983 He was the Italian Formula 3 Championship, after domin (Genoa March - Cosworth), ItalyThe Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Italia is a country in the south of Europe, consisting mainly of a boot-shaped peninsula together with two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea: Sicily and Sardinia. To the north, where it borders France, Switzer
• 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train Stefano Modena ( Onyx March - Cosworth), Italy
• 1988 Roberto Moreno (Bromley Reynard- Cosworth), Brazil
• 1989 Jean Alesi ( Eddie Jordan Racing Reynard- Cosworth), France
• 1990 Erik Comas ( DAMS Lola- Mugen), France
• 1991 Christian Fittipaldi ( Pacific Racing Reynard- Mugen), Brazil
• 1992 Luca Badoer (Crypton Reynard- Cosworth), Italy
• 1993 Olivier Panis ( DAMS Reynard- Cosworth), France
• 1994 Jean-Christophe Boullion ( DAMS Reynard- Cosworth), France
• 1995 Vincenzo Sospiri ( Super Nova Racing Reynard- Cosworth), Italy
• 1996 Jorg Müller (RSM Marko Lola- Zytek ), Germany
• 1997 Ricardo Zonta ( Super Nova Racing Lola- Zytek ), Brazil
• 1998 Juan Pablo Montoya ( Super Nova Racing Lola- Zytek ), Colombia
• 1999 Nick Heidfeld (West Competition Lola- Zytek ), Germany
• 2000 Bruno Junqueira ( Petrobras Lola- Zytek ), Brazil
• 2001 Justin Wilson ( Nordic Racing Lola- Zytek ), United Kingdom
• 2002 Sebastian Bourdais ( Super Nova Racing Lola- Zytek ), France
• 2003 Bjorn Wirdheim ( Arden Lola- Zytek ), Sweden
• 2004 Vitantonio Liuzzi ( Arden Lola- Zytek ), Italy

Three past F3000 champions have never appeared in an F1 race: Bourdais and Junqueira both race in Champ Cars, Muller races touring cars. A fourth champion, Sospiri, has attempted to qualify for a race and failed to make it, having raced for a highly unprepared team with poor equipment. It is uncertain at the moment where Wirdheim will race in 2005.

Three of them have won a F1 Grand Prix: Alesi, Panis and Montoya (who also won the Indy 500 once). No Formula 3000 champion has ever become Formula One World Driving Champion.