06 Mar 2002

Super Nova vs. Pantano - press release from Brask Management

Yesterday the High Court in London heard Brask Management's and Giorgio Pantano’s case against Super Nova for an injunction to restrain any driver from taking Giorgio Pantano's contracted seat at Super Nova for testing today and tomorrow at Imola, Italy.

The judge decided not to give his judgement yesterday (the two sides presented their cases for almost five hours) since he wished to take time to consider all the arguments.

The judge is expected to make his conclusion known at 15:00 GMT today.

Facts from the case were that Super Nova had signed three drivers for two available seats and wanted to take the two highest paying drivers. Giorgio Pantano, the Brask Management managed race ace and 2001 F3000 race winner, services were therefore no longer wanted by Super Nova.

Despite Super Nova wrongfully terminating the contract on Friday March 1st, Brask Management and Giorgio Pantano still wanted to pursue the seat that he had been contracted to for many weeks and had no alternative but to take the uncertain step of seeking an injunction to ensure that no other driver would take Giorgio’s seat.

Lars-Christian Brask, Chairman of Brask Management commented: "We still believe that with the terms of the contract, and as a race team, Super Nova were the top option for Giorgio in F3000 for the 2002 Championship challenge. The way we were ultimately treated leaves us very disappointed as to how the team operates from a professional and ethical point of view. We knew that it was a long shot to try and seek an injunction but we had to attempt it for legal reasons and to protect Giorgio Pantano’s rights. We now have to urgently find out what competitive options are still available to us and Giorgio. The biggest loser in this situation is Giorgio and he does not deserve to be put in this situation".