Minardi unveil new car at Imola
Formula One minnows Minardi unveiled their first new car for three years at Imola this morning.
Cash-strapped Minardi, who are based just a few miles from Imola in Faenza, are the sport’s perennial backmarkers but the new PS05 car has raised hopes of a more competitive season.
Minardi are unlikely to challenge for points but team boss Paul Stoddart is hopeful of overhauling Jordan in the race to avoid bottom spot.
First practice for the San Marino Grand Prix this morning offered little signs of a change in Formula One’s pecking order with Minardi again struggling at the back.
Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher ended the session 19th and 20th respectively – last of the drivers to set laps – and both were nearly three seconds slower than the Jordans.
Stoddart is encouraged by his new car but concedes it will take time for the improved machine to show its true speed.
He said: “Imola marks the true start of our 2005 season and the PS05 look very promising indeed in terms of our quest for ninth place in this year’s constructors’ championship.
“The true potential of the new car, however, will be revealed in the coming races of the 2005 season, as the Minardi engineers and technicians come fully to understand the new machine.”
The new car, Minardi’s first totally fresh design since 2002, enables the team to run up-to-date Cosworth engines which have powered Red Bull to 12 points so far this season, the first time in several seasons Minardi have enjoyed a parity of engine supply.
That will not last long, however, with Cosworth managing director Tim Routsis revealing that a scheduled engine upgrade will only be available to Red Bull.
