Duno lands backing for World Series Lights.(19/06/2003)

<a href=www.crash.net>Crash Net, Venezuelan Milka Duno has found sponsorship from one of Venezuela's largest companies in order to compete in the 2003 World Series Light Division of the increasingly popular Superfund World Series by Nissan.

Duno, Venezuela's 'driver of the year' in 2000, has secured the support of Petroleos de Venezuela SA [PDVSA], the state-owned oil company for the series, which begins in earnest this weekend at Monza, after making its public debut during the last Nissan round in France. The season will also see her compete at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, the A-1 Ring, Magny-Cours and in Barcelona, Valencia, Jarama and Albacete. "I am so very proud to have the support of such a large and respected corporation," Duno said, "That they are from my home country of Venezuela is even more special to me. As I have raced all over the world the past few years, I have been proud to be a representative of Venezuela in many countries. I will continue to do so with even more pride as a representative of PDVSA."

This season will mark Duno's third year in the series, and she will once again compete as a member of the highly-respected Italian Vergani Racing team. Duno will race the #12 Dallara, powered by a 275bhp AER engine specifically developed for the championship.

PDVSA has proven reserves of 77.9 billion barrels of oil - the most outside the Middle East - and is one of the top exporters of oil to the United States. PDVSA's exploration and production take place in Venezuela, but the company also has refining and marketing operations in the Caribbean, Europe and the US.