Spielberg: Super Nova race report

FIA International Formula 3000
Round 4 - A1 Ring, Austria
11th May 2002

After yesterdays below average qualifying session, things did not get any better for the Super Nova team and drivers today. Sebastien who started the race in eighth position was not too far off the starting line when Ryan Briscoe hit him from behind in the Coca-Cola Nordic car. Sebastien spun and had to pit at the end of lap one. Unfortunately he did not rejoin the field and now lies in fourth place in the championship after Enge the race winner and Pantano finished in the points today. Tiago started in fifteenth place and managed to escape any contact going into the first corner only to be hit at the second corner. He continued to race but at the end of lap 21 he had to pit for a new set of tyres due to a puncture and when he returned he lied in sixteenth position but got some valuable experience of the circuit and the car.

Arden had a one, two finish when Wirdheim followed Enge across the finish line.

Sebastien Bourdais - DNF

"I think Briscoe forgot to brake going into the corner. It has been a bad weekend for us from beginning to end, but the next one will be better."

Tiago Monteiro - P16

"The first lap we knew was going to be tough but the first corner went well so I was pleased, but then at the second corner some one hit me and the car lifted a little bit. The car felt fine for the first five or six laps but then five laps later I had a puncture in the rear left tyre, I tried to keep going as I wasn't a hundred percent sure that it was punctured but after about 12 laps I had to come in to change the tyres. I wanted to get some experience so I went out again after pitting but then another five laps later I started sliding on the right turns again so I think there was a problem with the car. Overall the times are not too bad, I finished the race and took some experience and that's probably what the first year is for - to learn. It was a shame again for Sebastien, it's not very nice when you work like crazy and don't finish. I'm looking forward to Monaco now."

Team Manager - David Sears

"Two years ago we won this race with Nicolas Minassian but both last year and today both cars went out early in the race, Sebastien Bourdais due to someone attacking his car on the first lap which led to his retirement and Tiago Monteiro suffering a puncture and having to pit for a new set of tyres, finishing in sixteenth place at the end.

The whole Super Nova team hope for a change in luck at the next race in Monaco in two weeks time."

-snr-