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For immediate release 28th November
2001
FIA INTERNATIONAL FORMULA 3000
OFFICIAL
TEST AT ESTORIL, PORTUGAL
27th & 28th November 2001
Super
Nova Racing have just completed their first two-day winter test at the Estoril
circuit in Portugal.
Englishman
Michael Bentwood who competed in the European Formula 3000 Championship this
year, featured for the first time in a Super Nova Racing car for day one of the
test. He finished sixth at the end
of a wet morning session. The
afternoon’s conditions were drier and all of the drivers improved their time.
Unfortunately on one lap, Michael hit a kerb and went into a barrier on
the last corner before the straight and finished the day ninth quickest.
25
year old Tiago Monteiro, runner-up in the French Formula 3 championship figured
in the car for day two. The weather
was dry and sunny and the Portuguese driver finished fifth at the end of the
morning session. During the afternoon he improved his time further.
He finished fifth in the afternoon and sixth quickest over the two days.
Team
Manager David Sears: “We tested two new drivers for this test, Tiago Monteiro
and Michael Bentwood. Unfortunately
Michael had an accident during the afternoon’s session, but he adapted to the
car well. Tiago took to Formula
3000 on his first taste like a duck to water and put in some real competitive
times compared to some other drivers who had already had at least one days
testing here. Had we had another
days testing, I believe Tiago would have set some times which would place him
near the top of the time sheet.”
Four
other teams attended the test: Arden International, Durango Formula, Nordic
Racing and Coloni Motorsport.
Official
times from the two days are as follows: -
Day
One – Tuesday 27th November
1.
Justin Wilson**
Nordic Racing
2.00.134
1:29.420
2. Tomas Enge
Arden
International
1:30.645 1:29.506
3. Gianmaria Bruni
Arden International
1:31.034 1:29.696
4. Joel Camathias
Nordic Racing
1:31.563
1:30.878
5. Zsolt Baumgartner
Nordic Racing
1:31.456
1:30.885
6. Yannick Schroeder
Coloni Motorsport
1.33.081 1:31.118
7. Björn Wirdheim
Durango Formula
1:31.133
8. Jaroslav Janis
Coloni Motorsport
1:32.655 1:31.630
9. Michael Bentwood
Super Nova Racing
1:32.336 1:31.875
10. Mirko Venturi
Durango Formula
1.33.293
Day
Two – Wednesday 28th November
1. Justin Wilson**
Nordic Racing
1.29.438
1:28.002
2. Sebastien Bourdais
Arden International
1:29.861 1:28.984
3. Gianmaria Bruni
Arden International
1:29.937 1:29.275
4. Joel Camathias
Nordic Racing
1:30.983
1:30.097
5. Tiago Monteiro
Super Nova Racing
1:30.939 1:30.321
6. Björn Wirdheim
Durango Formula
1:30.369
1:30.526
7. Zsolt Baumgartner
Nordic Racing
1:31.076
1:30.451
8. Mirko Venturi
Durango Formula
1:31.320
9. Yannik Schroeder
Coloni Motorsport
1:31.377
10. Jaroslav Janis
Coloni Motorsport
1:31.412
11. Michele Rugolo
Durango Formula
1:32.408
Overall Quickest Times from Tuesday & Wednesday
Driver
Team
Tue Time
Wed Time
1.
Justin Wilson**
Nordic Racing
1.29.420
1:28.002
2. Sebastien Bourdais
Arden International
1:28.984
3. Gianmaria Bruni
Arden International
1:29.696
1:29.275
4. Tomas Enge
Arden International
1:29.506
5. Joel Camathias
Nordic Racing
1:30.878
1:30.097
6. Tiago Monteiro
Super Nova Racing
1:30.321
7. Björn Wirdheim
Durango Formula
1:31.133
1:30.369
8. Zsolt Baumgartner
Nordic Racing
1:30.885
1:30.451
9. Yannick Schroeder
Coloni Motorsport
1:31.118
1:31.377
10. Mirko Venturi
Durango Formula
1:33.293 1:31.320
11. Jaroslav Janis
Coloni Motorsport
1:31.630
1:31.412
12. Michael Bentwood
Super Nova Racing
1:31.875
13. Michele Rugolo
Durango Formula
1:32.408
**
indicates times set in new B2/50 Lola
Super
Nova Racing now travel to Barcelona for the second and final winter test on 4th
and 5th December.
For further information please contact Sarah Newsum at Super Nova Racing.