Super Nova Racing Team Profile: Super Nova Racing Return to HomepageHomepage

The Japanese Nova Group first entered into motorsport in 1991 with the creation of the Super Nova Racing team, contesting the All Japan Formula 3 Championship from 1991 until 1993. Having quickly established themselves as a front-running team in the highly respected Japanese domestic series, Super Nova Racing made the move into International arena of European Formula 3000 in 1994. The David Sears led team ran Japan's Takachiho ('Taki') Inoue and Italy's Vincenzo Sospiri, a championship title contender until the final round of the series at Magny Cours. With four drivers in contention for championship victory, Sospiri ultimately finished fourth in the highly competitive series, a remarkable achievement for the fledgling team.

In 1995, Super Nova's second year of operation, the team dominated the Formula 3000 Championship. Italian Vincenzo Sospiri and Brazilian Ricardo Rosset took their Reynard 95Ds across the line in first place on no fewer than five occasions (Silverstone, Barcelona, Pau, Enna-Pergusa and Spa Francorchamps) en route to claiming first and second places in the championship with one round of the series remaining. By the end of the eight race series Super Nova had accrued a total of 72 championship points, whilst no other team collected more than 26 points.

1996 once again saw Super Nova consistently leading the field. Swede Kenny Brack won 4 races on the road, had no less than 7 podium finishes, and only missed clinching the Championship title by one point with Brazilian Marcos Gueiros finishing in 5th position. Despite a dispute at the last round in Hockenheim, Kenny Brack was the moral victor of the Championship.

In 1997 Super Nova were determined to regain the Championship crown once again and this they did with Brazilian Ricardo Zonta taking the title in some style at the penultimate race at Mugello, Italy. The 1997 season saw no less than 6 different race winners during the 10 rounds which threw the Championship wide open with at one point six drivers in the running for the title, however Ricardo Zonta triumphed for Super Nova.

1998 was yet another very good year for Super Nova with 7 pole positions and 9 podium finishes, Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya took the F3000 title at Nurburgring in Germany. Being a frontrunner all season, it was still down to the final race before he could claim the throne. Since no one could predict the outcome, the excitement of the Championship was kept on top until the finishing line.

Despite a slow start to the 1999 season, Dane Jason Watt finished strongly with two poles at the last two races at Spa and Nurburgring. This along with David Saelens picking up some valuable points meant the team finished second in the Teams Championship with Jason finishing second in the Drivers Table.

The 2000 season saw an exciting battle for the Driver’s Championship between Super Nova’s Nicolas Minassian and Bruno Junquiera of the Petrobras Jnr. Team. After 7 rounds, both drivers were on equal points having won 3 races each, but going into the final race at Spa, Nicolas had fallen to 7 points behind Junqueira, meaning that he had to finish in no lower than first position to stand a chance of winning the championship. Despite a very strong challenge, the task was just too much and Nicolas had to settle for second place, 3 points behind winner Junqueira. Team mate David Saelens, in his second year for Super Nova finished in equal sixth place with three third places at Magny Cours, Monaco and Barcelona.

The Super Nova team are currently the most successful team in the history of the championship.

Super Nova Statistics
Year Driver Races Wins 2nd 3rd Poles F Laps Champ Points
1994 Vincenzo Sospiri
Taki Inoue
8
8
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
4
 
24
 
1995 Vincenzo Sospiri
Riccardo Rossett
8
8
3
2
2
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
2
42
29
1996 Kenny Brack
Marcos Gueiros
10
10
3
0
2
1
2
2
3
0
3
0
2
5
49
20
1997 Riccardo Zonta
Laurent Redon
10
10
3
0
2
0
0
1
4
0
4
0
1
9
39
10
1998 Juan Pablo Montoya
Boris De Riechbourge
12
12
4
0
2
0
3
1
7
0
5
0
1
15
65
5
1999 Jason Watt
Riccardo Mauricio
David Saelens
10
3
7
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
 
9
30
0
8
2000 Nicolas Minassian
David Saelens
10
10
3
0
1
0
1
3
0
2
0
0
2
6
45
15
Totals (68 races) 136 20 14 15 18 15 3 381

Super Nova operates from an 11,000 square feet purpose built race factory at Griston, Norfolk. With a flill time staff of fifteen personnel, Super Nova is run under the managerial leadership of Sears, and the technical direction of race engineers Andy Roche and Rob Creswell.

 

Super Nova Racing Team Sponsors Return to HomepageHomepage

Playlife produces multi-national sports equipment.

Nova is Japan's most successful language school. Founded in 1981 with one school in Osaka, Nova has grown into a phenomenon in the very high profile and competitive area of language learning in Japan.

Currently Nova has over 326 schools throughout Japan and has taught more than 300.000 students. Though initially established as a language school, Nova has ventured into other business areas such as computer software development, advertising, interior design, restaurants, translation and overseas student study and exchange programmes.

Nova is the largest employer of foreign workers in Japan.

Avon is the official F3000 tyre supplier. Cooper bought Avon in March 1997. Cooper Tyres announced its purchase of Avon, located in Melksham, England, adding 1.200 employees and 2.167.000 square foot manufacturing facility to their American based company.

Since 1989, Zytek Engineering Ltd. has provided engines for the top International F3000 Championship series and will do until 2002.

The engine provides a cost-effective power plant with 2,000 miles between rebuilds. Zytek provide a comprehensive service to the series, supporting all races and tests with around 20 engines in the support vehicle and a large team of engineers to provide pit lane support to all team.

Drivers of NASCAR, Indy and Grand Prix car, rental agencies etc are just a few of the many of Performance Friction customers.

Since the company's birth in 1953, Performance Friction has striven to make a brake pad that has exceptional pedal feel for more driver control, excellent stopping ability and noise free operation.

Performance Friction supplies Super Nova Racing with brake pads.

Alpinestars produces the most advanced and uncompromised line of products ever developed for road racing, motorcross and casual wear. The company supplies the team Super Nova team with team shoes.

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