Super Nova

[pink69]

I would like to comment on the new Super Nova racing livery. If they are supposed to have linked up with Bennetton , why have they not got their livery. The livery looks awful and nothing like the bennettons. Why?

[DanFlag]

F3000.com April 2001 news

April 06, 2001 (4:30pm GTM -05:00)
Teams fight over Benetton junior status Durango and Super Nova come to blows. (source: Autosport Site F3000 News)

Story:
Teams fight over Benetton junior status


Durango and Super Nova come to blows


A row between the Durango and Super Nova Formula 3000 teams over which is the official Benetton junior outfit is unlikely to be settled before the second round of the championship at San Marino next week.

Super Nova has an affiliation with the Benetton Formula 1 team and Mark Webber, who is Benetton's official test driver, drives for the crack F3000 outfit. However, the Durango team, which returned to International F3000 this year after competing in the Italian domestic series, ran its cars in light blue livery and with the Benetton name on the airbox at last weekend's season-opening race in Brazil.

The confusion appears to have arisen from the fact that Super Nova is affiliated to Renault, which owns the Benetton F1 squad, whereas Durango has an agreement with the Benetton family, which sold the team to the French car giant last year.

"We are the official Benetton junior team and have a contract to prove it," said a spokeswoman for Durango. "We have the Benetton name on our cars and Super Nova doesn’t."

Super Nova boss David Sears disagrees and claims that Renault will seek legal action against the Italian team. He said: "They can't use the Benetton name. It is owned by Renault."

Both teams had mixed weekends in Brazil with Durango's Jaime Melo inheriting second place from title favourite Webber when the Super Nova driver dropped to seventh after being given a 25-second penalty for overtaking before the startline when the race was restarted after a period behind the safety car.

The Durango team is expected to retain the same livery at San Marino next weekend.