FEBRUARY 6, 1995

The other Jackie O

JACKIE OLIVER has denied stories circulating in Europe that the Arrows F1 team is in difficulties and that he is planning a merger with the Supernova Formula 3000 team.

JACKIE OLIVER has denied stories circulating in Europe that the Arrows F1 team is in difficulties and that he is planning a merger with the Supernova Formula 3000 team. Supernova is run by former racing driver David Sears, who also manages the careers of several up-and-coming drivers including McLaren's Jan Magnussen; Japanese Takachiho Inoue; and Italian, Vincenzo Sospiri.

Oliver says that he has been talking very seriously to Inoue - who is rumored to have access to substantial financial backing from Japan - about an Arrows drive for the coming season; but that he is also talking to other drivers. Inoue is expected to get the drive alongside Italian Gianni Morbidelli.

Sears does have F1 ambitions for the future, but turned down the chance to buy into the Simtek team last autumn and is thought to be more likely to enter F1 in 1996 when Inoue will have a year's experience on the F1 circuit.