Super Nova Racing have just completed a two day testing programme at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain with new drivers Patrick Friesacher and Alan van der Merwe. All nine teams were present at the final test in preparation for the first race of the season at the Italian circuit of Imola on 24th April.
Yesterday's conditions were dry and sunny for day one of the test but the track was wet early on in the morning session. Raffaele Gianmaria in the AEZ car put an early end to the morning session after a bad crash at one of the corners.
In the afternoon Alan van der Merwe continued his development in his first run out in the Super Nova Lola B02/50 and finished an impressive ninth at the end of the afternoon. Teammate Patrick Friesacher was also on the pace, finishing fifth quickest behind Van Hooydonk, Liuzzi, Doornbos and Lauda.
Times on day two of the test were quicker than day one with Patrick going quickest on his first new tyre run but getting traffic on his second set to finish the morning session fifth quickest with a time of 1:31.400. Alan finished in ninth position with a time just over half a second slower than Patrick's. In the afternoon the team used the time to practice various set-ups and pitstops.
Patrick Friesacher: - "Everything has gone quite well. Yesterday in the morning we only ran six laps because it was quite wet and then there were two big crashes. In the afternoon we completed 25 laps and tried different set-ups on the car and everything went quite well. We changed the car overnight and it had improved quite a lot today. I think it should be ok for Imola, I know we will have to try really hard for the first race as this was only our first test and we still have a lot of work to do but it should go well."
Alan van der Merwe: - "All in all for my first run out yesterday I am quite content. I realise I still have a bit to learn when using new tyres, but I am quite happy going to Imola with the testing that we have done here."
Team Principal David Sears: - "I was extremely impressed on Super Nova's first official test of the year with both drivers. Patrick Friesacher had a car spin in front of him on his fastest lap but still finished in fifth place, only 0.5 seconds behind the fastest time and Alan van der Merwe having suffered from food poisoning for the duration of the test managed to turn out some very competitive times. I feel that when everyone is in the same situation and teams are not using tyre warmers that both our drivers will qualify in the top six and I am looking forward to the new season with high expectations."
