Bjorn Wirdheim finished second to Ricardo Sper🧸afico at Ho🐬ckenheim, knowing that it was good enough for him to sew up Arden International's first FIA F3000 drivers' title.

The Swede won the opening round at Imola, but was content to rack up the podium finishes until winning for the second time at Silverstone two weeks ago. That was the catalyst for the final leg of his championship charge, and second spot - from third on the grid - at the German Grand Prix finally gave Wirdheim t🔴he crown with two races still run.

"Today is like a dream for me," said Wirdheim after the race, "The team have been fantastic all year and today is the realisation of a lot of very 𝐆hard work. I am overjoyed to have be𒁃aten so many really top drivers and I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has believed in me during my career."

Wirdheim becomes the first Swede to have won the title, eclipsing Kenny Brack's runners-up position in 1996, and will now aim to follow in the footsteps of countrymen Ronnie Peterson, Gunnar Nielsen 💮and Stefan Johansson to become a fully-fledged F1 driver. His prospects look good as all bar three champions since the series' inception in 1985, have gone on to become grand prix regulars.

Arden also notched its first ever drivers' championship, after coming close last season with ﷺTomas Enge. The team, which was set up by Christian Horn🍸er in 1997, was overjoyed at the victory that rewarded its consistency during a stellar season.

Wirdheim showed that he was not entirely flawless with a collision with Sperafico at the Nurburgring, and a third victory could have been hi🍰s had he not slowed to celebrate with his crew in Monaco - some 50 yards short of the flag - 🅺but the inability of his rivals to pile up consistent results meant that neither aberration mattered that much.

However, his amazing consistency - he has only once failed to appear on the podium - w꧋ere enough to seal the title early, denying the fans the sort of three-way sh🍃owdown they enjoyed at Monza last year.

The Swede joined race winner Speraficཧo and third-placed Patrick Friesacher on the 𝓀Hockenheim podium.