Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

Derek Hill signs with top team, Imola first race

Derek Hill readies for 2003 Formula 3000 assault with Jordon Grand Prix Junior Team [Super Nova Racing]. After successful testing sessions in Jerez and Barcelona immediately before the start of the 2003 Formula 3000 season, during which he ran ...

Derek Hill readies for 2003 Formula 3000 assault with Jordon Grand Prix Junior Team [Super Nova Racing].

After successful testing sessions in Jerez and Barcelona immediately before the start of the 2003 Formula 3000 season, during which he ran as high as third fastest, American driver Derek Hill, son of 1961 Formula One World Champion Phil Hill, is ready for battle in his Super Nova Racing Lola/Zytek. Super Nova is linked this year with the Jordon Grand Prix team and is going under the name, Jordon Grand Prix Junior Team.

Super Nova, the most successful Formula 3000 team in recent history, won the F3000 championship last year with Sebastien Bourdais, Hill's former teammate at DAMS, who moved to American champ car racing this year.

Derek Hill, whose times through the varied track and weather conditions at the two F3000 test venues were very encouraging, said before the start of testing, "I'm thrilled to be signed up with a top Championship-winning team like Super Nova. It's what the last two years in International Formula 3000 have been all about, gaining experience and racing with the best. This season holds a lot of potential and I look forward to making the most of it." Hill raced for Benetton Durango last year and for the French DAMS team in 2001.

Super Nova Team Manager David Sears remarked, "It's great to have Derek Hill finally on board. We've been friends for the last couple of years since he tested with us in Jerez with his father present. Derek demonstrated last year with Durango that he can run at the front and I am sure that with our guidance he can fight for the Championship crown this season. The whole team is looking forward to working with him."

Derek Hill will join Super Nova's other driver, Enrico Toccacelo, in a season-long battle for supremacy in one of the most competitive racing series in the world. This will be Hill's third straight season in F3000.

The F3000 season opens Saturday, April 19, in Imola, Italy, site of the Grand Prix of San Marino. Hill is one of only two American drivers competing in F3000 this year.

The biggest spec racing series of them all, Formula 3000 is the gateway to Formula One, and attracts racing and karting champions from around the world. Formula 3000 events are held at Formula One venues on the Saturday of Formula One race weekends.

Super Nova has won the F3000 championship four times since 1995, with drivers including Vincenzo Sospiri, Ricardo Zonta, Juan Montoya, and Sebastien Bourdais. Kenny Brack came second in the championship race in 1999, and Super Nova was second again 2001, and won the manufacturer's championship on total points in 2000. In 80 races, the team has 23 wins, 15 seconds, 15 thirds, 20 poles, 19 fastest laps and four championships.

-snr-

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Coloni Motorsport Barcelona test notes 2003-04-11
Next article Imola: Coloni Motorsport qualifying notes

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA