FIA INTERNATIONAL FORMULA 3000
OFFICIAL TEST AT SPA, BELGIUM

6th & 7th August 2002

Super Nova Racing have just completed the final two-day FIA official test of the season at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.

Day 1 – 6th August 2002

Unfortunately the weather played havoc with day one of the test. First of all, the morning session could not get under way because of fog and then the drivers had only been running for approximately 40 minutes when it started to rain.

Tiago Monteiro who enjoys driving in the wet finished eleventh at the end of the morning.

The rain continued into the afternoon session but began to dry out in the last hour. The Super Nova drivers did not use any sets of new tyres and therefore finished the day in fifth and fifteenth place overall.

Tiago Monteiro 2:08.497
“We didn’t use any new tyres today. We just did six or seven laps in the dry because of the fog this morning before it started to rain and we had to stop for lunch. This afternoon I was third quickest in the wet and was running really well and then we did a few other tests in the dry with old tyres again. We have kept all of the new sets of tyres for tomorrow. Overall I am quite happy with the balance of the car.”

Day 2 – 7th August 2002

Fortunately the weather for day two of the test was much better. The best times of the day were set in the early part of the cooler morning session. The Super Nova drivers did not use tyre warmers like many other teams did when the track was at it’s quickest therefore Tiago finished eleventh this morning.. In the slower afternoon session Tiago tried out various set-ups and managed to improve on his morning time to finish the afternoon ninth quickest.

Tiago Monteiro 2:06.587

“Today we had four sets of tyres to use because we didn’t use any yesterday. We used the first set right at the beginning of the morning and I was eighth quickest at that point. The balance of the car was ok but I had a little oversteer. We just tested various things but generally it was quite difficult to erase this problem. At the end of the day it was a lot warmer but I had my first taste of using the tyre warmers. It was very good as you can use the grip of the tyres straight away. I did a big mistake on the first lap so I lost a lot of time but it was good to learn how to deal with them. On my last set of tyres right at the end I set my best time of the two days without using the tyre warmers so I am pleased with that. It has been a good test as I am learning all the time about both the set-up and how to use the tyres.”

Team Manager – David Sears

“Overall Tiago was twelfth but again would possibly have benefited from the tyre warmers this morning. However he was quick on new tyres and is capable of a good qualifying performance for the race here.

This second day has been dry all day which meant the afternoon session times were quite close. The whole team are confident about coming back here at the end of August for the race.”

The next round of the Championship takes place in Budapest on 17th August.

For further information please contact Sarah Newsum. Tel +44 1953 881188

Praça João Martinho de Freitas, lote 22 A – 2750-388 Cascais Tel. 21 484 84 00   Fax. 21 486 39 81   Email. dca@dcanews.com