FIA INTERNATIONAL FORMULA 3000
OFFICIAL FIA TEST AT IMOLA, ITALY

Day 2 - Thursday 7th March 2002

During day two of the test, Tiago Monteiro and Sebastien Bourdais continued to progress in the new Lola's.  The fastest times of the day were set in the sunny but cool conditions early in the morning.  Sebastien was again in form, setting the second quickest time behind Rodrigo Sperafico in the Durango car.  Just before Sebastien was due to go out on his final set of new tyres at the end of the afternoon session, his car suffered a brake balance problem.  He only did one further lap to scrub the tyres in, ready for next week's test at Silverstone.  Tiago continued to learn more about the circuit and his car today and finished this morning fifteenth.  Unfortunately this afternoon when he went out on his final set of tyres with approximately thirty minutes of the session remaining, there was a gearbox failure on his car which caused his wheels to lock and he spun off.

Sebastien Bourdais 1:37.244

"We continued to work on trying to solve the oversteer problem.  We haven't found the answer yet but a part of it.  This morning we did a pretty good time and with all the figurations at the end the end of the day I think I could have been quicker but I couldn't go out because of the brake problem.  The time doesn't matter too much as it's only a test and not qualifying or a race."

Tiago Monteiro 1:38.921

"Overall I am quite pleased with the two days because I got more and more confident with the car and I have now learnt the track, but there are still a lot of tricky places that I will need to improve on around the circuit.  Today was much better, yesterday's test helped us analyse everything and the set-up got better and better today.  This morning we did two new sets of tyres and unfortunately this afternoon I only did one lap on the final set of tyres when the gearbox broke so it was a bit disappointing for the times, I'm sure we could have been just a second away from the quickest time.  The team and I are working well and the car is improving.  I'm really happy with the first two real days in the car and now I am looking forward to Silverstone because this is another track that I don't know."

Team Manager - David Sears

"This has been a very productive test for the Super Nova team with Sebastien Bourdais ending up second fastest overall of the two day test.  

Tiago has learnt a lot more about Formula 3000 and is getting quicker and quicker but a gearbox problem curtailed his test half an hour from the finish.  The manufacturers of the car, Lola need to address the problem, which seems to be happening to a lot of teams throughout the field.

The team hope to continue their good testing work next week at Silverstone on Tuesday and Wednesday."


FIA INTERNATIONAL FORMULA 3000
OFFICIAL TEST AT IMOLA, ITALY

7th March 2002


Pos.
Driver
Team
Morning Time
Afternoon Time
1.
Rodrigo Sperafico
Durango Formula
1:36.879
1:37.244

2.
S. Bourdais
Super Nova Racing
1:37.244
1:38.691

3.
T. Enge
Arden International
1:37.356
1:38.037

4.
B. Wirdheim
Arden International
1:37.462
1:37.589

5.
Ricardo Sperafico
Petrobras Junior Team
1:37.480
1:38.433

6.
A. Pizzonia
Petrobras Junior Team
1:37.584
1:38.137

7.
M. Haberfeld
Team Astromega
1:37.623
1:37.972

8.
E. Toccacelo
Coloni F3000
1:37.775
1:38.190

9.
P. Friesacher
Red Bull Junior Team
1:37.924
1:37.791

10.
R. Mauricio
Red Bull Junior Team
1:37.951
1:38.368

11.
A. Muller
Durango Formula
1:38.048
1:38.535

12.
R. Nyugen
Team Astromega
1:38.402
1:38.849

13.
T. Schmidt
PSM Racing Line
1:38.544
-

14.
R. Briscoe
Nordic Racing
1:39.025
1:38.604

15.
Z. Baumgartner
Nordic Racing
1:38.791
-

16.
T. Monteiro
Super Nova Racing
1:38.921
1:39.369

17.
N. Kiesa
PSM Racing Line
1:39.822
1:39.267

18.
D. Schwager
Coloni F3000
1:40.984
1:40.130

FIA INTERNATIONAL FORMULA 3000
OFFICIAL TEST AT IMOLA, ITALY

Overall Times from the Two Days
6th & 7th March 2002


Pos.
Driver
Team
Day One
Day Two

1.
Rodrigo Sperafico
Petrobras Junior Team
1:37.965
1:36.879

2.
S. Bourdais
Super Nova Racing
1:37.981
1:37.244

3.
T. Enge
Arden International
1:38.771
1:37.356

4.
B. Wirdheim
Arden International
1:38.405
1:37.462

5.
Ricardo Sperafico
Petrobras Junior Team
1:38.469
1:37.480

6.
A. Pizzonia
Petrobras Junior Team
1:38.735
1:37.584

7.
M. Haberfeld
Team Astromega
1:39.092
1:37.623

8.
E. Toccacelo
Coloni F3000
1:38.348
1:37.775

9.
P. Friesacher
Red Bull Junior Team
1:38.129
1:37.791

10.
R. Mauricio
Red Bull Junior Team
1:37.917
1:37.951

11.
A. Muller
Durango Formula
1:38.145
1:38.048

12.
R. Briscoe
Nordic Racing
1:38.209
1:38.604

13.
R. Nyugen
Team Astromega
1:39.532
1:38.402

14.
T. Schmidt
PSM Racing Line
1:38.733
1:38.544

15.
Z. Baumgartner
Nordic Racing
1:39.621
1:38.791

16.
T. Monteiro
Super Nova Racing
1:40.924
1:38.921

17.
N. Kiesa
PSM Racing Line
1:43.087
1:39.267

18.
D. Schwager
Coloni F3000
-
1:40.130



For further information please contact Sarah Newsum. Tel +44 1953 882954