Olivier Beretta took pole position for Monday's opening round of the FIA International Formula 3000 championship at Donington with a lap of 1 min 19.55 secs. Last year's British F3 champion Gil de Ferran and Britain's Paul Stewart filled the next two places on the grid.

03.05.93

Olivier Beretta comfortably won the opening round of the International Formula 3000 championship at Donington, finishing six seconds clear of Portugal's Pedro Lamy. David Coulthard was heading for fifth place but stopped on the last lap, leaving Paul Stewart the top British finisher in fifth.

06.05.93

Mercedes will quit Formula One at the end of the season, ending speculation that they were planning a full return to GP racing. The German motor manufacturers have been backing Sauber, the team with which they won the 1989 and '90 world sportscar titles and the 1990 Le Mans 24-Hour race. Their year's development budget is believed to be around $30 million. Team owner Peter Sauber said they had expected to go-it-alone in '94. "We will have new engines from Ilmor," he explained. 

Benetton have denied reports that F1 world champion Nigel Mansell is considering joining them this year. "We would take him any time, but how can we when he is with Indycar," said team managing director Flavio Briatore. "It is all speculation." The rumours started after a private meeting between Flavio, the FOCA president Bernie Ecclestone and Mansell's adviser Sheridan Thynne. It is thought Mansell, currently with the Newman-Haas Indycar team, is more likely to be contemplating a return to Formula One in 1994.

07.05 - 09.05.93

Spanish Grand Prix

13.05.93

British drivers Perry McCarthy and David Coulthard may be in the running to replace Damon Hill as Canon Williams' test driver. Both have tested for the team. Coulthard did 71 laps at Silverstone today in place of championship leader Alain Prost. "We are not actively looking for a test driver but when we do David will be considered," said team boss Frank Williams. "I have used Perry in testing before and I have every intention of doing so again," he added.

20.05 - 23.05.93

Monaco Grand Prix

26.05.93

Australia is set to stage a special race between Formula One and Indy cars later this year. South Australian tourism minister Mike Rann says F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has indicated by letter his approval for the race. It would be staged in Adelaide on November 6, the day before the Australian GP, if IndyCar chief William Stokkan is agreeable. Rann hopes three or four drivers from each side will take part for a prize of �2.3 million.