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2007.03.08.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER NAMED AS TEST AND RESERVE DRIVER

LAGUNA SECA, CALIFORNIA, March 8, 2007 - Minardi Team USA is pleased to announce that Zsolt Baumgartner has been appointed official test and reserve driver for the 2007 season. The 26-year old Hungarian racer, who previously competed for Minardi in the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship, will join Dutch driver, Robert Doornbos, for the two-day Champ Car World Series Spring Training session, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, commencing today. He will also be present at the majority of Champ Car weekends this season.

Baumgartner is best known to American audiences for having scored the hard-trying Minardi F1 Team's sole World Championship point of the 2004 season, at that year's United States Grand Prix. He has continued to be a regular driver for the team's exciting two-seater program since that time.

"I'm very happy to continue my relationship with Paul Stoddart and Minardi, by taking on this new role as test and reserve driver for Minardi Team USA," says Zsolt. "I'm looking forward both to experiencing the new Panoz DP01 Champ Car for the first time, here at Laguna Seca, and learning more about the North American racing scene during the course of the 2007 season. I'm sure it will be an interesting and exciting year, and I'm really looking forward to it."

Minardi Team USA Co-owner, Paul Stoddart, comments, "Aside from being an excellent race and test driver, Zsolt has been one of the real stalwarts of the Minardi two-seater program, and it therefore makes perfect sense to involve him in our North American plans as official test and reserve driver for the Champ Car team. He's a great ambassador for us, and we're very pleased to have him along at the start of Minardi Team USA's Champ Car adventure. I'm sure he will make a strong contribution to all our programs this season."

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2004.12.23.

ALBERS TO RACE FOR MINARDI IN 2005

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, December 23, 2004 - Formula One fans in the Netherlands can celebrate a little earlier than normal this festive season with the announcement today that Christijan Albers is to drive for the Minardi Cosworth team in 2005. The identity of the first of Minardi's two race drivers for the new season was announced this morning to a packed press conference at the prestigious Bilderberg Garden Hotel in Amsterdam.

Albers, who is now an established star in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), is also well known to Minardi personnel, both as a regular driver of the team's exciting two-seater F1 cars and as a former member of the European Formula Racing F3000 team, owned at the time by Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. More recently, Albers took part in the Faenza squad's Misano test last month, driving a 2004-specification Minardi Cosworth PS04B. He impressed team members by setting the fastest time of the week-long session in just 20 laps.

Albers' move to Formula One in 2005 has been made possible by the support of a number of enthusiastic commercial backers, who will be revealed at a special, pre-season F1 launch party to be held on January 27th, at a secret location in Amsterdam. Leading investor is Lost Boys and Media Republic founder Michiel Mol, who comments: "This is my Christmas present to all Dutch F1 fans".

Aside from the sponsors, the Essentially Group and John Byfield have fulfilled an important consultancy role to both the driver and his backers, as has GR8 Industries, Albers' official management company for the past four years, which is run by Lodewijk Varossieau. In addition, ABN AMRO Corporate Finance acted as financial adviser during negotiations with the team.

"We are very pleased to be able to announce Christijan as one of our two race drivers for 2005," comments Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "He has always been a naturally quick driver, but it is clear there is now an added maturity and focus with that speed. In short, we believe he is absolutely ready for Formula One, and we fully expect him to surprise a few people this coming season, particularly since Minardi also has ambitious plans. From a personal point of view, it is very gratifying to see a number of Dutch companies getting behind a talented young driver in order to help him take that final, and most difficult, step to the highest level of motor racing. Knowing Christijan as I do, I'm certain he will reward the faith placed in him."

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2004.11.25.

ALBERS AND MALDONADO TEST AT MISANO

MISANO, ITALY, November 25, 2004 - The fourth day of the Minardi team's week-long test at the Autodromo Santamonica saw the Faenza squad continuing with its driver test and evaluation programme after the Minardi F1x2 cars were in action on the circuit yesterday.

Promising young Venezuelan, Pastor Maldonado, was first on the track on Thursday morning and performed impressively, quickly acclimatising to the performance of the Minardi Cosworth PS04B and steadily reducing his lap times until he achieved his fastest lap of 1 min 11.330 secs. Dutch DTM star, Christijan Albers was next up, and as expected, was quickly up to speed, producing laps in the 1 min 11 sec bracket before setting the fastest lap of the day, at 1 min 10.800 secs. Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the Minardi F1x2 cars again at Misano, with Jos Verstappen, Nicolas Kiesa and Zsolt Baumgartner among those scheduled to drive.

PASTOR MALDONADO Best lap: 1 min 11.330 secs Total laps: 22

"I'm really impressed. This is my first time in a Formula One car, and I just didn't expect such power. This year, I have been driving a much smaller, less powerful car in Formula Renault 2000, and I have also tested an F3000 car, but the F1 car is something completely different. It's amazing! Personally, I'm very happy to be here today, because F1 has always been my objective, as it is the dream of all racing drivers. I think I did a good job this morning, and I feel satisfied with my work."

CHRISTIJAN ALBERS Best lap: 1 min 10.800 secs Total laps: 20

"Firstly, I want to thank Paul Stoddart, for giving me the chance to drive the Minardi. I have become accustomed to Touring Cars in the DTM, and it's good to be back in a Formula One car, although they remain physically demanding to drive - I can feel it in my neck even now! The team worked really well, but as only eight out of the 20 laps I did were flying laps, there was not a lot of set-up time. My main aim this morning was to show the speed I am capable of and what I can do in the car. I know I could have gone quicker, but considering the number of laps, I think the time wasn't too bad."

GIAN CARLO MINARDI

"It has been a very productive day. We have seen a young Venezuelan driver, in Pastor Maldonado, who put in a very good performance, especially considering he has made the considerable jump from Formula Renault to Formula One. Albers also put in a very good performance today. Considering how different from one another the drivers are we have had here at Misano, I think it has been a really interesting week. We are also satisfied that all of the drivers who have driven a Minardi here have produced extremely good laps times at a very high level. This means the car is relatively easy to learn and drive. Now we will work with these drivers, and hopefully, one of them will have a future in Formula One."

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2004.11.24.

MINARDI F1x2 CARS TAKE TO MISANO CIRCUIT

MISANO ITALY, November 24, 2004 - After to days of concentrated testing the focus of the Minardi team at the Autodromo Santamonica today switched to its F1x2 two-seater program. In the course of the morning and afternoon sessions, drivers Christijan Albers, Patrick Friesacher, Zsolt Baumgartner and Nicolas Kiesa took 45 passengers for high speed, high adrenalin tours of the challenging, 4.060km misano circuit. The majority of the passengers on t is occasion were nominated Minardi technical partner, Bridgestone, plus commercial partners, Superfund and The Global Group. At the conclusion of the day's activities, the hard working two-seaters had covered a combined total of 550 kms, and will now be checked over and re-prepared for there final Misano session, Friday.

Continuing the teams policy of giving talented young drivers a chance to demonstrate there abilities in a formula one car, Dutch DTM star and former European Minardi F3000 driver, Christijan Albers, is scheduled to test a Minardi Cosworth PS04B tomorrow morning, at misano, with promising Venezuelan, Pastor Maldonado, taking over in the afternoon.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER

"It's been a great pleasure to be here and to drive the Minardi two-seater once again. I hope the passengers enjoyed it - I had one or two requests 'two push', so I could only oblige. The Misano circuit is very interesting and good fun to drive in a F1x2 car. Also, because these events are a lot more relaxed than a race weekend or a test, you can really enjoy them."

NICOLAS KIESA

"This is my sixth time driving the Minardi two-seaters this year, but it's the first time I've driven at Misano, and I have two say, I liked the circuit. There are quit a few corners were you can really accelerate on the exit, and combined with very good grip and traction from the chassis, it gives the passengers an accurate sense of what F1 performance is all about."

RICHARD SAILSBURY, Minardi F1x2 Team

"It has been another successful day for the Minardi F1x2 programme, and once again, it seems a lot of excited and happy individuals have stepped out of the cars at the end of there passenger rides. As usual, the drivers all did an excellent job, and i'd like two thank them for there efforts. We will now start getting the cars ready for Friday, which will mark our penultimate two-seater date this year, the final appearance being at the bologna motor show in 10 day's time."

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2004.11.23.

AUSSIES ON PARADE AT MISANO TEST

MISANO, ITALY, November 23, 2004 - The second day of Minardi's week-long test session at the Autodromo Santamonica saw a distinctly "Down Under" flavour at the Italian circuit, as young Australian drivers, Will Davison and Will Power, both experiencing Formula One performance for the first time, joined Israeli driver, Chanock Nissany, who was completing a two-day programme with the team.

Once again, the primary objective of the day's activities was to provide the drivers with the chance to acclimatise to Formula One, although the team's engineers also took the opportunity to evaluate some new aerodynamic components, which may be used in 2005. Tomorrow, the emphasis switches to the Minardi F1 two-seater programme, as Zsolt Baumgartner, Christijan Albers and Nicolas Kiesa spend the day providing high-speed "chauffeur" services to nearly 50 passengers, who are certain to experience the "ride of a lifetime".

WILL POWER Best lap: 1 min 11.790 secs Total laps: 22

"It was very, very impressive, like nothing else I've ever driven. You just can't describe the brakes and the power, but ultimately, it's just another car, and you have to get used to it and become physically fit enough to drive race distances in it if you're going to do F1. The track proved to be quite easy to learn - it's mostly slow and medium-speed corners, and other than the left-handers going onto the back straight, which are taken ‘flat', there are no massively quick corners. Once I'd familiarised myself with the layout, I just found the quicker I went, the more I loved it. It was huge fun!"

WILL DAVISON Best lap: 1 min 11. 900 secs Total laps: 22

"That was just an awesome experience - incredible! You can prepare physically as much as you like, but nothing can really prepare you for the experience of driving a Formula One car for the first time. The power is amazing, although you do start to adapt to it quite quickly, but the whole package - the engine, the gears, the brakes - is just perfect. In fact, there is so much grip in the car, and the brakes are so good, that it's difficult to find the limit of the car in a short space of time, but at a test like this, that is exactly what you need to do. Personally, I feel pretty happy with the job I did today. I didn't make any mistakes, and each time I went out, I found there was something new to learn. I particularly want to thank Paul Stoddart, the engineers, and the whole Minardi team, all of whom have made me feel extremely welcome. That, in turn, hat has made my job easier. The problem is, now I've had a small taste of F1, I want more, because I definitely felt as though I was capable of doing a good job on the basis of today's experience."

CHANOCK NISSANY Best lap: 1 min 14.000 secs Total laps: 50

"Today was very different for me in terms of the morning and afternoon sessions. In the morning, the car was in 2004 specification, but in the afternoon, I had the honour to be the first person to drive a Minardi with 2005 aerodymic package. It is immediately clear that there is much less downforce available, and I believe this cars will be much more difficult to drive and will demand considerable skill from the driver. Overall, I felt things went well today, and I would very much like to have the opportunity to continue my F1 "learning curve" with the team."

PAUL STODDART

"All three drivers today put in a solid performance but I was particularly pleased to be able to fulfil a promise made twelve months ago to give two young Australian drivers, Will Power and Will Davison, the opportunity to realise the dream of a lifetime, by driving an F1 car. They both acquitted themselves with distinction, in that they were on the pace quickly and set very competitive times after only a relatively small number of laps. This is hugely significant, when you consider neither of them had ever sat in an F1 car before today. I believe both have a positive future and let's hope at least one of them is able to follow in Mark Webber's footsteps. Chanock had a difficult job, having been selected to test the interim, 2005 specification aerodynamics. He quickly realised the significance of the massive reduction in downforce, and provided the team with some useful feedback on its 2005 aero package."

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2004.11.22.

MONTEIRO, FRIESACHER AND NISSANY OPEN MINARDI TEST

MISANO, ITALY, November 22, 2004 - The first day of a five-day Minardi test got under way today at the Autodromo Santamonica in Misano.

One of the two Minardi Cosworth PS04B chassis available was driven initially by Tiago Monteiro, who then handed over to Patrick Friesacher, while the other was allocated to Israeli driver, Chanock Nissany. Monteiro's task was to work on chassis set-up, while Friesacher and Nissany, who were both having their first experience of an F1 car, spent much of their allocated time on the opening day acclimatising to the levels of performance and handling available. Nissany is scheduled to continue testing on Tuesday, and will be joined by young Australians, Will Power and Will Davison, fulfilling a promise made to both men by Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, at this year's Australian Grand Prix.

PATRICK FRIESACHER Best lap: 1 min 11.150 secs Total laps: 42

"To test a Formula One car is a great experience, and I have to thank the Minardi team and Paul Stoddart for this opportunity. I was just amazed at the speed and the braking of the car when I went out on my first lap, but then, like all race cars, you start to get used to the performance. I think I had a good day and I hope the team is pleased with the job I did."

TIAGO MONTEIRO Best lap: 1 min 13.240 secs Total laps: 20

"It was a great pleasure to be back in a Formula One car again, and I have to thank Paul Stoddart, Gian Carlo Minardi and the whole team for the opportunity they have given me today. I had never been to Misano before, so I spent the first couple of laps this morning just familiarising myself with the circuit. Initially, the conditions were very tricky, as the track surface was extremely dirty. The situation gradually improved, however, so we got on with testing several items and accumulating some useful information. I was also able to set the car up for the other drivers, who don't have any F1 experience. I'm very pleased to have been back with the Minardi team again, and now we have to work for the future. The next few days will be very important."

CHANOCK NISSANY Best lap: 1 min 14.780 secs Total laps: 41

"At the beginning of the test, the track was not in great condition, but the car was behaving well despite this. The surface and the grip improved in the afternoon and the car had a good set-up, which allowed me to get a clear feel for the performance. With the experience I have accumulated today, I hope to improve further tomorrow."

MASSIMO RIVOLA, Team Manager

"The plan today was to keep set-up changes to a minimum and allow the drivers - particularly Patrick and Chanock - to get some experience driving a Formula One car in race configuration. On that basis, I think we have had a very good day, and I want to thank all the drivers for their efforts. Tiago undoubtedly had the toughest job, as he went out first on a cold and dirty track. As we have seen before, though, he approached the situation with great maturity, by starting carefully and then steadily reducing his lap times as he worked on finding a good chassis set-up. Chanock lost about 45 minutes this morning, while a potential problem with his car was checked out, but he went on to do a very solid job, especially considering he has only been racing for two years. Patrick was particularly impressive, starting off with laps of 1 min 15 secs and then building up speed quickly. Once he got to the limit, he put in some consistently fast laps. Finally, a special word of thanks to our partner, Bridgestone - Minardi is the only F1 team testing here at Misano, and they are again supporting us brilliantly with tyres and technical advice."

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2004.11.20.

FORMULA ONE AUCTION MAKES HISTORY

LEDBURY, ENGLAND, November 20, 2004 - The largest-ever auction of modern F1 cars and memorabilia came to a highly successful conclusion this afternoon with Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, and auctioneers, Bache Treharne LLP, pronouncing themselves extremely pleased with the overall result of the sale.

Aside from the thousands of potential purchasers of F1 merchandise who visited the Ledbury auction site, many thousands more joined the four-day auction in virtual form, bidding on-line from a total of over 30 countries for the more than 6,000 lots that were on offer. Incredibly, bids ranged from $8, for a team tee-shirt, to over $180,000, for a 1997 Tyrrell 025 Formula One car in running order.

Adding a further touch of excitement to the proceedings, Minardi Formula One drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Nicolas Kiesa attended the auction, chatting with bidders and signing autographs. The drivers also assisted with a special daily auction benefiting the BBC Children in Need appeal and the Diana Princess of Wales National Air Ambulance Paediatric Unit. Each of the successful bidders, who collectively contributed $70,000 to the nominated charities, will receive the thrill of a lifetime in a Minardi two-seater F1 car either next week in Italy, at the Autodromo Santamonica near Misano, or at one of the team's 2005 events.

At the conclusion of the event today, Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, commented, "I'd like to thank Bache Treharne, as well as all our staff, for their fantastic efforts and for the weeks of support that led to thousands of items representing modern F1 history going to good homes in the course of what has been a truly international event. I'd also like to thank Zsolt and Nicolas, who gave freely of their time to attend the event and to assist with the auction of the Minardi two-seater rides, the proceeds of which will benefit two very worthwhile causes. In addition, Nicolas was kind enough to provide Danish translation services on the internet!"

Bache Treharne Chief Auctioneer, Chris Hall, who sold the first lot on Wednesday morning and brought the bidding to a conclusion on Saturday afternoon, said, "With goods sold to customers as far away as Brazil, Australia, the United States, Japan, South Africa, and most western European countries, there is no doubt this has been both a successful and enjoyable event. Everyone at Bache Treharne is very proud to have been involved in what has been undoubtedly the biggest F1 auction ever."

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2004.11.17.

ADDED SPICE FOR F1 AUCTION

LEDBURY, ENGLAND, November 17, 2004 - As if staging the largest-ever auction of modern Formula One cars and memorabilia wasn't enough, Minardi F1 Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, has decided some added excitement is in order at what is already shaping up to be a truly memorable four-day sale.

At 1400 GMT, immediately before bids open for each day's allocation of F1 cars, Bache Treharne's Chris Hall will hand over his gavel to Paul Stodddart, who will auction a passenger ride in one of Minardi's two-seater F1 cars. The highest bidder in each case will travel to Italy next week aboard a private European Aviation flight, and receive an adrenalin-pumping ride around the Autodromo Santamonica, at Misano, where the Minardi F1 Team is taking part in a scheduled test.

Proceeds from the sale of the F1x2 rides will be allocated to two extremely worthy causes - the BBC Children in Need appeal and the Diana, Princess of Wales, National Air Ambulance, which provides emergency neo-natal and paediatric air transfers.

The inclusion of the Minardi F1 two-seater passenger rides is certain to add a further level of interest to this major auction, which commences today in Ledbury. Star attractions among the 6,000 lots will undoubtedly be the 40 modern F1 cars on offer, including chassis from Tyrrell, BAR, Jordan, Arrows, Brabham and, of course, Minardi. Those without the budget to buy their own Grand Prix car should not despair, however, as this is an auction with something for every F1 fan, including racewear, car components, team clothing, models, books, and much more.

With such a motor racing treasure trove available to the public, it is perhaps predictable that interest in the auction has been high. Official auctioneers, Bache Treharne LLP, report they have received registration applications from more than 21 countries, and that at least 1,000 individuals and companies have registered to bid in the webcast auction, which will be broadcast live on the internet on all four days.

On the eve of the auction, Paul Stoddart commented, "In true Minardi tradition, in the course of the auction, we're offering participants the chance to bid each day for the ride of a lifetime in a Minardi F1x2 car, the proceeds from which will benefit two very worthwhile charities. The world record for one of these rides is $275,000, and although the rides being auctioned here at Ledbury are totally unreserved in terms of price, I'm sure the generosity of those attending will ensure excellent donations are made to both the Children in Need and the National Air Ambulance.

"On a personal note, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the staff of both Minardi and Bache Treharne, who have been working flat out to prepare and catalogue the massive number of items for this auction."

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2004.11.15.

MINARDI CONFIRMS 2005 ENGINE SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS

FAENZA, ITALY, November 15, 2004 - Following today's news concerning the ownership of Cosworth Racing, the Minardi F1 Team is pleased to confirm that it will be supplied with the Cosworth TJ engine in 2005.

Due to the timing of the announcement, however, the team will be seeking to operate its 2004 car and engine package for the first three races of the new season.

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2004.11.04.

AUCTION FEVER BUILDS

LEDBURY, ENGLAND, November 4, 2004 - It's still two weeks to go until the start of Paul Stoddart's exciting auction of F1 cars, equipment and memorabilia, but already the numbers make impressive reading. The unique event, overseen by highly experienced auctioneers, Bache Treharne LLP, has now been extended to four days, and will take place from November 17th to 20th, at one of Minardi's two facilities in Ledbury, Herefordshire. The auction will also be webcast live on the Internet, allowing interested parties to bid in privacy, should they so wish.

It is shaping up to be the largest auction in Formula One history, with over 5,000 individual lots being offered for sale over the four days, including 40 Formula One cars, plus engines, bodywork, team clothing and an array of motor racing memorabilia. In fact, there is even one lot suitable for aspiring F1 team owners, as it includes five Arrows chassis complete with intellectual property rights, relevant drawings, a spares package and a quantity of support equipment. Also due to come under the auctioneer's gavel are two F1 motorhomes, a pair of race transporters with tractor units, and a catering unit.

To add a little additional spice to what already promises to be a memorable event, at 2pm on each of the four auction days, a lucky bidder will have the opportunity to secure the ride of a lifetime in one of Minardi's two-seater F1 cars at Misano, Italy, the following week. The proceeds from auctioning these rides will go to assist a highly deserving charity, the identity of which will be announced shortly.

Predictably enough, the announcement of this unusual auction has generated considerable interest worldwide, with 2,000 serious enquiries received by Bache Treharne to date, and the current list of registered bidders revealing individuals or organisations from 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, the United States, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

"I didn't realise how many Formula One-related items we had until we started to assemble everything in order to catalogue it," comments Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "When you consider three individual F1 teams will be represented in the auction - the entire assets of Tyrrell, a majority of the assets, including intellectual property rights, of Arrows, and, of course, Minardi - then I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise that there will be over 5,000 lots available to the public. One thing is certain, and that is, it's going to be a very busy four days for the five auctioneers involved. We anticipate the auction lasting 12 hours each day, with the main items of interest, the F1 cars, coming up for sale at 3pm each day."

Bache Treharne Partner, Chris Hall, is similarly enthusiastic about the event. "We've had an excellent response at this early stage, and it's fair to say we're very encouraged," he says. "The initial signs are that this auction is generating a large amount of interest worldwide and is likely to be very successful."

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2004.10.24.

20 YEARS ON

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL, October 24, 2004 - The Minardi F1 Team celebrated the concluding race of its 20th season in Formula One with a strong two-car finish, drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni finishing 16th and 17th respectively in today's 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix.

After a flurry of activity at the beginning of the race, which saw Bruni start from the pit lane and Baumgartner call at the pits at the end of the formation lap, both drivers settled down to run steady races, swapping positions after each of their pit stops. In the end, though, it was Baumgartner who took the chequered flag ahead of his team mate and brought what has been a particularly challenging season for the Faenza team to a positive conclusion.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 14.743 secs Position: 16th

"It was a very hard race and I had some problems, as I picked up a cold earlier in the week here in Brazil. As a result, I was a little worried about how I would be during the race, as this is a very physically demanding track, As it turned out, I was able to concentrate and push hard right to the end with a very consistent pace. I'm happy with today's result and with the lap times, and I'd like to express my thanks to the whole team for their efforts this season, as well as to Bridgestone for the excellent tyres they have provided throughout the year. Today was my 20th Grand Prix and I am very pleased to have finished the race."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 14.756 secs Position: 17th

"All told, it wasn't a very good day for me. I started the race on shallow wet tyres and, after a few laps, had to come in, but with Zsolt also coming in, I lost a bit of time. When I changed to dry tyres with the set-up we had, the car developed a lot of oversteer, which lasted for much of the race. We couldn't really improve the situation, but in the last stint, I think maybe the track improved a bit and the set-up started to work better, so I was able to turn some better lap times. Having lost some of time during my last pit stop, though, I just concentrated on getting to the chequered flag."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It's a great way to finish the weekend with a positive two-car finish, and my thanks go to the whole team, who have worked tirelessly, along with Gimmi, Zsolt and our test driver, Bas Leinders, to achieve the impossible. Let's hope next year Minardi can find improved performance and continue as Formula One's fourth oldest team. The sport has had some difficult times this year, and for Minardi, its saddest moment undoubtedly came with the loss of Sporting Director, John Walton, in July. The positive moves in the F1 paddock this weekend involving all the Team Principals, however, give rise to the hope that we will all be able to enjoy a better, more competitive sport in the future."

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2004.10.23.

UPS AND DOWNS

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL, October 23, 2004 - The second day of practice for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, final round of the 2004 Formula One World Championship, again took place in warm, dry conditions at the Autodromo José Carlos Pace. Minardi Cosworth drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni continued their preparations for qualifying and the race during the two practice sessions before turning their attention to the afternoon qualifying session.

Baumgartner secured 19th place on the grid with a solid lap of the challenging 4.309-km track, while a problem that developed on Bruni's car during his pre-qualifying run could not be rectified in the time available and the young Roman was therefore not able to take part in qualifying. He will therefore start tomorrow's race in 20th position.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 13.550 secs Position: 19th

"Generally, it has been a good day. I was quite competitive compared with my team mate all morning and I was very happy in qualifying that I could be that close to the Jordan with just half-a-tenth of a second between us. I really like the track, which may be why I have performed well here all weekend, and now I hope to have a good race here tomorrow to finish the weekend. I particularly want to thank the team for all their effort. We tried a lot of things on the car and they worked really hard to make all the changes. They pushed really hard, so I did as well, and now I will try to reward them with a good race tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: No time Position: 20th

"I had a good run in the pre-qualifying session and set the fastest-ever lap for a Minardi around Interlagos. On the 'in' lap, however, I experienced a problem with the car and, as a result, decided not to take part in the qualifying session. Even so, I'm sure tomorrow is going to be a good race and I will try to get the best result I can in the final event of the year."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"This weekend has been a busy one for Minardi and I am pleased with the fact that we were able to exceed last year's pole position time throughout the course of the day. Zsolt put in a solid performance in today's qualifying, while Gimmi will start from the pit lane tomorrow, as he did not record a time. The tyres provided to the team this weekend seem to be working particularly well here at Interlagos, and it is therefore an opportune moment to thank Bridgestone for the support they have given us all season.

"The weather forecast for tomorrow could prove interesting, as we all remember the fantastic race Minardi had when the team was last here in Sao Paulo."

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2004.10.22.

THE BOYS IN BRAZIL

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL, October 22, 2004 - Practice for the final round of the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship got under way today at the Autodromo José Carlos Pace in dry, sunny conditions, Minardi Cosworth drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni, plus test driver, Bas Leinders, all coping with the demands of the Brazilian circuit in a Formula One car for the first time.

Bruni and Leinders lost some time during the opening morning session while minor technical problems were resolved with their respective cars, but by the conclusion of the afternoon session, the Friday technical programme had been completed. Although the Interlagos circuit has long been known for its bumpy nature, grip levels improved during the day, and this was reflected in a steady reduction in lap times.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 13.979 secs Position: 23rd

"Generally, it was a good day for us, although I made a mistake on what should have been my fastest lap this afternoon, which probably cost me half a second. The Interlagos circuit is new to me, and apart from being very bumpy in places, I quite like it and feel confident of being able to improve my lap time further tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 13.467 secs Position: 20th

"We had a good opening day. This is my first time in Brazil and I spent much of today learning the circuit. I think I adapted quite well, and I'm now looking forward to tomorrow, when I'm sure we can improve in some areas and be even quicker."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 14.754 secs Position: 25th

"Unfortunately, I was only able to do a total six flying laps today, as my car had a hydraulic problem this morning. That was subsequently fixed and I was then able to do two useful tyre comparison runs. Considering the limited number of laps available, it was a little difficult to set a competitive lap time, but I was nonetheless pleased with my performance. I'm also pleased with the effort of the team, and would like to thank everyone at Minardi for their support throughout the season. I have experienced very few technical problems all year, and this has provided me with an excellent opportunity to prove myself in Formula One."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal

"It has been a positive start for Minardi to the final Grand Prix weekend of the season, and it was particularly pleasing that Gimmi's quickest lap saw him ahead of a Jordan and two Jaguars. Just to put things in perspective, it is worth noting that his best lap, of 1 min 13.467 secs, was almost four-tenths of a second quicker than last year's pole position time. Zsolt also ran solidly in both sessions and, in the end, was only a couple of tenths slower than his team mate. Special mention today, however, must go to our test driver, Bas Leinders, who had his last run in that role with the team today. Despite a small hydraulic problem in the first session that cost him some running time, he did his usual exemplary job for us. It has been a pleasure to have Bas with us, and we would like to thank him for his fantastic efforts this year. He has made a really significant contribution to the Minardi programme in 2004, and we wish him every success in his quest to become a full-time F1 driver next season.

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2004.10.12.

MINARDI F1 AUCTION DATES ANNOUNCED

LONDON, ENGLAND, October 12, 2004 - Bache Treharne announced today the dates for Paul Stoddart's Formula One Auction. The three-day sale is set for November 18, 19 and 20, and will include approximately 50 per cent of the Minardi Team Principal's collection of F1 cars and memorabilia.

The Auction will take place at Minardi's facility in Ledbury, UK. Having consolidated Minardi's operations in Italy, Stoddart plans to sell the CNC and conventional machine tools formerly used by his UK R&D team, as well as a huge range of F1 cars, team transportation and pit equipment.

Auctioneers Bache Treharne are presently cataloguing approximately 4,000 lots to be included in the sale. Auctioneer, Chris Hall, said, "The sale will have huge international appeal and buyers will be able to bid from around the world using our Webcast facilities.

"We are receiving interest from all areas, from rival teams and corporate hospitality companies, to enthusiasts and collectors. The huge selection of Minardi, Arrows, Jordan, Tyrrell, Benetton, British American Racing and Brabham cars and branded memorabilia means there will be something for all F1 fans."

"Commenting on the announcement, Paul Stoddart said, "This group of cars, which has been built up over the last 10 years, is possibly one of the most significant modern F1 collections ever offered. It contains most of the assets of the former Tyrrell and Arrows teams, as well as a wealth of other cars, engines and genuine F1 spares and memorabilia from teams such as BAR, Jordan and, of course, Minardi. What is of significance is that the sale includes not only approximately 4,000 catalogued items, but also that prospective purchasers will have access to hundreds of additional lots of a substantial nature, including plant and equipment, further F1 cars, and other items available for sale prior to the auction.

"I think the sale will have something for everybody, from an F1 car to a tee-shirt, and as I am forever being asked, 'Where can I purchase genuine Minardi merchandise?', here's the opportunity."

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2004.10.10.

ONE HOME, BUT BOTH DRY

SUZUKA, JAPAN, October 10, 2004 - After the dramatic weather generated by an approaching typhoon that caused Saturday's programme to be cancelled on safety grounds, the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix turned out to be a much quieter affair for Minardi Cosworth.

Despite never having raced at Suzuka previously, and having had only Friday's two wet practice sessions to acclimatise themselves to the demands of one of motor racing's most challenging circuits, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni both put in solid performances when it came to this afternoon's race, which, ironically, was run in dry, sunny conditions. Bruni made a good start, enjoyed three problem-free pit stops and took the chequered flag in 16th place. Baumgartner launched into his first Japanese Grand Prix from the pit lane after failing to set a time in the morning qualifying session, but soon settled into a good race rhythm. Unfortunately, the event came to a premature end for him on the 45th lap, when he spun at turn five just after his third, and final, scheduled pit stop.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 39.434 secs Position: DNF

"Overall, it was not my weekend here at Suzuka, although my pace in the race wasn't too bad, especially considering I had never driven in the dry here before. I like high-speed circuits, which is probably why I got used to this one quite quickly. Unfortunately, I made a mistake while pushing really hard after my final stop and went off the track. I'm upset not to have finished, particularly for the guys, as I caused them quite a lot of work this weekend. I'd like to thank them for their efforts."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 39.352 secs Position: 16th

"It turned out to be quite an uneventful race, but it was good to finish here at Suzuka, as that is always the first ambition of the team. We struggled with the package we have, though, and in particular today with oversteer, but I'm looking forward to Brazil now and hoping to get another solid finish there."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"In what proved to be a difficult weekend for Minardi, it was satisfying at least to get one car home, with Gimmi taking the chequered flag. Both drivers drove solid races, although Zsolt unfortunately spun off just after making his final pit stop of the afternoon and failed to finish."

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2004.10.10.

BACK TO BUSINESS

SUZUKA, JAPAN, October 10, 2004 - After yesterday's near-miss of the Suzuka area by Typhoon No 22, the approach of which led to the cancellation of all Saturday on-track activities, it was back to business for Formula One teams today with the postponed pre-qualifying and qualifying sessions, plus the Japanese Grand Prix, all taking place on Sunday.

Minardi Cosworth drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni did not get on particularly well, however, Bruni qualifying in 18th position and Baumgartner failing to set a time after spinning at Turn 9 during his pre-qualifying run. As the car was returned to the team's garage only minutes before the final qualifying session was scheduled to begin, the team elected to miss the run. Baumgartner will now start this afternoon's Japanese Grand Prix from the pit lane in his race car.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: No time Position: 19th

"It's a shame that I had a problem in the pre-qualifying run because my first sector time was not too bad. The track conditions were tricky, as the surface was drying, but still quite wet in places. The car had some oversteer in it and when the back end slid in that corner, I was just a little too late catching it. We've been a bit unlucky this weekend. This is a very challenging circuit, I have not run here before, and the track conditions have been particularly tricky. I just hope we can have a good race this afternoon."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 48.069 secs Position: 18th

"It has been a difficult morning, as we were out first for our qualifying run. With the track still wet but drying quickly, it was a difficult choice on tyres, but in the end, we went with shallow wets. Unfortunately, the drivers whose runs came next were able to use slicks, which gave them a big advantage. Anyway, now we will just have to see what happens in the race."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Sadly, neither of our drivers was able to take advantage of this morning's changeable weather conditions. Unlike qualifying for last year's French Grand Prix at Magny Cours, when rapidly changing track conditions played to our advantage, today the weather and timing just weren't with us. When Gimmi went out for his qualifying run, the surface was still sufficiently wet that the only choice was to fit Bridgestone shallow wet tyres, but with the circuit drying quickly, the drivers who followed were able to qualify on slicks."

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2004.10.08.

WHEN THE RAIN CAME

SUZUKA, JAPAN, October 8, 2004 - The first day of practice for the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix, penultimate round of the 2004 Formula One World Championship, turned out to be a decidedly soggy affair, courtesy of a typhoon moving in from the south of the country.

Heavy rain set in prior to the opening morning session, thoroughly soaking the Suzuka area and causing many teams to keep their running time to a minimum. Minardi Cosworth drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner , Gianmaria Bruni and regular Friday tester, Bas Leinders, all went out in the morning, however, in order both to gain experience of the challenging Japanese circuit and to assess the slippery conditions. The rain continued to fall heavily during the afternoon session, with grip and visibility remaining at a premium. In common with other teams, Minardi personnel will be hoping for an improvement in the weather tomorrow so they can progress with their normal technical preparations, but with the typhoon forecast to swing close to the Suzuka area, Formula One is in the hands of Mother Nature.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER

"The weather situation today was a bit unfortunate in terms of having an opportunity to learn the track. Generally, the car balance was good, but we were struggling with the huge amount of water on the track. In fact, when I spun during the second session, it had started to rain even harder and the conditions were pretty much impossible."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver

"This was my very first experience of driving in the wet with an F1 car as well as my first time driving on the Suzuka Circuit, and I am very pleased with what I discovered. The car seems to have quite a lot of grip in the wet, and I really enjoy driving in the rain anyway. I'm not at the limit of the car yet - I would need more mileage to arrive at that point - but it has been a good start to building my knowledge of driving in the wet in Formula One."

GIANMARIA BRUNI

"It was not a very good day, as I didn't have the possibility to drive enough. I did just one proper run, but the balance in the wet was quite good, as my lap times show. Now we can only see what tomorrow holds."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal

"In what can only be described as extreme weather conditions, all three Minardi drivers did a very creditable job today, Bas got to grips relatively quickly with the conditions and set the fastest time of the three, while Zsolt had a minor 'off' at the point when the rain was falling at its heaviest and the level of standing water had increased tremendously. In fact, several cars spun off at turn six, which brought a premature end to the afternoon session. With the forecast calling for more heavy weather tomorrow, we could be in for a very interesting race on Sunday."

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2004.09.26.

ALL-ACTION WEEKEND IN SHANGHAI

SHANGHAI, CHINA, September 26, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth had an incident-packed afternoon in what turned out to be an action-packed inaugural Grand Prix of China.

Drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni both got away to clean starts, but Bruni had to call into the pits earlier than scheduled for his first stop when his car suffered a punctured front tyre on lap 10. Having lost considerable time to his team mate while he drove slowly back to the pits, Bruni then pushed hard over the next 30 laps to reduce the deficit. Unfortunately, just a few laps before what would have been his third, and final, stop, the left front wheel of his car came off as the result of a mechanical problem, and Bruni was forced to retire from the race. By comparison, Baumgartner found himself grappling with strong oversteer after each of his pit stops, and also suffered a slightly worrying moment, when he locked up the brakes of his car while entering the pits for his final stop of the race and made contact with some of the Minardi pit crew members. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, and once back on track, Baumgartner pressed on to take the chequered flag in 16th place. Earlier in the day, the Minardi F1 Team had the pleasure of witnessing rising young Indonesian star, Reno Soeprapto, win the second of two Formula BMW Asia Championship rounds staged at SIC this weekend. The result was made even more satisfying by the fact a total of three Minardi Team Asia drivers, including Soeprapto, finished in the top 10.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: 16th

"For me, this was one of the most difficult races of the season. I struggled with the balance of the car after each of the pit stops, although it then gradually improved as the stints wore on and I was able to set more competitive lap times. I was probably too easy letting the quicker cars overtake during the race, as I lost a lot of time this way. I was upset about the incident during my last stop, when I hit one of my mechanics, but the surface of the pit stop area was very slippery and the brakes locked up as I came in. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, although there are one or two bruises to be seen. This is a challenging circuit to drive, and I am happy I was able to finish the first-ever Grand Prix in China."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: DNF

"I was in front of my team mate at the start, but then Glock blocked me and Zsolt got ahead. I decided the best strategy then was to maintain a good pace, avoid making any mistakes and bide my time. Unfortunately, I suffered a puncture on lap 10, but was able to make it back to the pits for an earlier-than-scheduled stop. I lost a lap in the process, but was then able to reduce the gap to Zsolt pretty steadily over the following two stints, before the front wheel came loose. This is a very nice circuit and I am upset that I wasn't able to finish the race today, but there was nothing I could do - we just had bad luck, and will have to hope it improves in Japan."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It has not been a very good day for Minardi. Gimmi's race was interrupted by an early puncture and terminated with the loss of a front wheel, when he was simply too far from the pit lane to be able to drive safely back to the team's garage to have the problem dealt with. Zsolt, meanwhile, was stuck in traffic for much of the race, and going off the racing line here to allow faster cars to overtake costs you a significant amount of time. As a result, it was a tough race for him, but he nevertheless recorded a well-deserved finish. On a positive note, at the conclusion of this historic weekend, we must congratulate the Chinese for building a superb new motor racing facility, which sets new standards for Formula One."

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2004.09.25.

THE CHINA SYNDROME

SHANGHAI, CHINA, September 25, 2004 - The final day of preparations for Sunday's inaugural Grand Prix of China saw Minardi Cosworth drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni carry on with the team's normal technical programme during the morning's final two practice sessions.

The continuing focus was on fine-tuning the balance of the Minardi chassis to cope with the demands of the Shanghai International Circuit, both drivers making progress, as evidenced by the lap times recorded in the practice sessions and during pre-qualifying. The team elected to make a precautionary engine change on Baumgartner's car prior to qualifying, however, and knowing this would drop the driver 10 spots on the grid, chose a conservative fuel strategy for the young Hungarian in tomorrow's race. This was reflected in his eventual qualifying time. Bruni attacked his qualifying lap in typically forceful style, but unfortunately, his car spun at turn three and he elected to cut short the run. Despite their grid positions, both drivers remain optimistic about their chances in tomorrow's race.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 40.240 secs Position: 18th

"We were struggling with some oversteer this morning, but gradually made progress with the chassis balance on longer runs, which will be relevant for our race performance tomorrow. The guys worked very hard today, as they had to make a lot of changes between the third and fourth practice sessions, as well as carry out an engine change. I'm happy that I made both my qualifying runs without any mistakes."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: No time Position: 19th

"I did a good lap in pre-qualifying, and I was pushing very hard on my qualifying run when the car spun. These things can happen - it happened to Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari today, and it happened to me in a Minardi,. That aside, though, I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's race."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"We had expected to do a little bit better today, but sadly, Gimmi spun out of contention on his qualifying run. Prior to that, however, both drivers had good practice and pre-qualifying sessions, and we therefore look forward to tomorrow's inaugural Grand Prix of China with a healthy mixture of optimism tinged with realism."

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2004.09.24.

F1 DEBUTS IN CHINA

SHANGHAI, CHINA, September 24, 2004 - Formula One made its long-awaited debut in the People's Republic of China today as the stunning new Shanghai International Circuit echoed to the banshee wail of Formula One engines being used in anger for the first time. In common with all the F1 teams competing at SIC, Minardi Cosworth began Friday's official practice sessions without a bank of previous track data from which to draw, but drivers Zsolt Baumgartner , Gianmaria Bruni, and Friday tester, Bas Leinders, soon began to familiarise themselves with the challenging 5.451-km circuit.

Predictably enough, they all reported the track surface to be dusty and lacking in grip initially, but as it cleaned up, lap times started to tumble. In what turned out to be a relatively untroubled day, the Minardi drivers worked through their full Friday programme, including fine-tuning chassis balance, assessing the Bridgestone tyres available for this weekend's Grand Prix of China and evaluating software.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 37.076 secs Position: 19th

"I'm happy with the progress we made today. It is always a challenge to learn a new circuit, and this one was made trickier by the fact the surface was initially very dirty. We did some useful work today, although we are still searching to find a good chassis balance. We had a gearbox problem at the end of the morning, but it was fixed between the sessions and we were able to complete our full Friday programme by the end of the second practice. The guys worked hard today, because there was a lot for them to do between the two sessions, and I was pleased to be able to reward them with a good lap time."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 37.431 secs Position: 21st

"Things didn't turn out as well as I had hoped today, but I'm still quite happy. We made progress with the car and definitely went in the right direction with the chassis set-up. Unfortunately, Massa got in the way on what would have been my fastest lap of the afternoon and cost me maybe six or seven tenths of a second. In the end, I did my best time on the second lap of that run."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 38.522 secs Position: 23rd

"It has been a bit of a difficult day. We were looking for a good chassis balance, but never quite found it. We tried a new direction in terms of set-up, and this proved promising. We're not there yet, but it is definitely the basis for making some interesting progress next year."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal

"On a positive note, what a fantastic facility and all credit to the Chinese for building what is without doubt now the state-of-the-art F1 track. This week's news, however, concerning the withdrawal of Ford and Jaguar Racing from the World Championship has shaken the sport to its core. As a result, there continues to be much speculation concerning the future of F1's independent teams, notably Minardi and Jordan, which rely on Ford-owned subsidiary, Cosworth Racing, for their engine supplies. Despite unfounded comments from some quarters to the contrary, Minardi has an engine for 2005, and there is no doubt whatsoever that the team will be lining up in Melbourne for the start of the 2005 F1 season. That said, our sincere best wishes go to all our colleagues at Jaguar Racing and Cosworth Racing, and we wish them every success in their quest to find a buyer over the coming months. It is not Ford and Cosworth that have failed F1, but F1 that has failed Ford and Cosworth."

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2004.09.17.

MINARDI ENGINE SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2005

FAENZA, ITALY, September 17, 2004 - Following the announcement from Ford Motor Company this afternoon concerning its decision to bring its current Formula One participation to a conclusion at the end of the current season, the Minardi F1 Team wishes to confirm that there is a contract in place with Ford-owned Cosworth Racing for the supply of engines to the team in 2005.

"Minardi has enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Cosworth Racing over the years, and in light of today's announcement, we will be working closely with Cosworth representatives to find a workable solution regarding engine supply arrangements for next season," comments Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "We are confident of being able to arrive at a suitable arrangement."

"On a personal note, all of us at Minardi have been saddened by today's news, but fully understand the economic realities involved in competing in this sport as it is currently structured. Our best wishes go out to all the staff involved, many of whom are personal friends as well as work colleagues."

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2004.09.15.

PUMA KEEPS MINARDI TEAM SAFE

FAENZA, ITALY, September 15, 2004 - It is sometimes said that "clothes maketh the man," but for the Minardi Cosworth pit crew who suddenly found themselves surrounded by flames during last Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, it was more a case of "clothes saveth the man".

Thankfully, the dramatic fire that erupted during Gianmaria Bruni's second scheduled pit stop was rapidly extinguished and there were no serious injuries. In the wake of the incident, however, the Faenza team wishes publicly to thank technical partner and official racewear supplier, Puma, for the integrity of the clothing that protected its personnel during the potentially dangerous situation that developed during the race.

Puma provides flame-resistant race suits, gloves, boots, balaclavas and underwear to Minardi Cosworth drivers, Gianmaria Bruni, Zsolt Baumgartner and Bas Leinders, as well as to all members of the Faenza squad's pit crew. The company is also the official supplier of footwear and travel bags to the entire team.

"Racewear is one of those things that you tend to take for granted until something like this happens, and then you are reminded just what a critical role it plays in terms of overall safety in the modern motor racing environment," observes Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "We would therefore like to extend our sincere thanks to Puma for providing clothing to our crew that protected them very effectively on Sunday. It was obviously a major contributory factor in ensuring that no serious injuries were incurred by any of those involved."

In fact, the only casualty in the incident was Bruni, who briefly experienced breathing difficulties after inhaling smoke and fumes from the fire. He quickly recovered, however, and departed Monza on Sunday evening disappointed that he had not been able to finish his 'home' Grand Prix, but grateful for the expertise that Puma incorporates into all its racewear.

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2004.09.12.

DRAMATIC AFTERNOON AT MONZA

MONZA, ITALY, September 12, 2004 - It turned out to be a dramatic afternoon for Minardi Cosworth, the Faenza team's Italian Grand Prix overshadowed by a brief but frightening pit fire which, mercifully, did not result in any serious injuries to team personnel. It did bring the race to a premature conclusion for Gianmaria Bruni, however, who experienced breathing difficulties after inhaling fumes during the pit stop and was unable to continue. The race was rather less incident-packed for Zsolt Baumgartner, who gambled on starting the Grand Prix on dry tyres after the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza had been soaked by heavy rain on Sunday morning.

It turned out to be a good decision, as the rapidly drying track surface soon allowed him to get up to speed and pull ahead of Bruni, who headed to the pits early to exchange the Bridgestone "shallow wet" tyres, on which he had started the race, for dry-weather slicks. After Bruni's retirement on lap 30, Baumgartner pressed on, claiming 15th place at the finish.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 26.356 secs Position: 15th

"I think we had not too bad a race. It was a bit tricky at the beginning, but I think we made the right choice to start with slick tyres. I lost a little time on the damp track in the first couple of laps, but then the grip came in and I was able to pick up the pace. I then had a good, really fair race with Gimmi. As the race wore on, I was struggling with the balance of the car a bit, but we were able to adjust the handling during the stint. I'm happy I was able to finish the Italian Grand Prix, like last year, and I'm now looking forward to China, where I hope we will be able to have a good race. Overall, I'm happy with today, but most of all, I'm relieved that no one was hurt in the fire this afternoon."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 26.371 secs Position: DNF

"I again made a very good start and had overtaken seven or eight cars after the first few corners. As the track was drying quickly, however, I made my first planned stop a little early, which put me behind Zsolt when I came out of the pits. I then closed the gap right up to him during my next stint and was expecting to overtake him after the second stop. Unfortunately, when the refuelling nozzle was placed on the car, it seems a small amount of petrol leaked out, and when it hit the hot parts of the car, there was instantly a fire. Fortunately, it was extinguished immediately, but some of the fire retardant got into my helmet and I couldn't breathe properly. I'm fine now, but it's really a pity for the guys, as the car was good and I think we could have a solid finish today."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Whoever thinks F1 is boring wasn't around the Minardi garage this afternoon when Gimmi's car erupted into flames shortly before leaving the pits after his second stop. The mechanics did a fantastic job to extinguish the flames immediately, but unfortunately, Gimmi inhaled some of the fumes. Zsolt, on the other hand, drove a solid race to record yet another well-deserved finish at this, one of Minardi's 'home' GPs. I cannot thank the guys enough for their thoroughly professional behaviour and quick reactions that undoubtedly helped to avert what could have been a major incident this afternoon. As for the fire itself, the team is still investigating the cause of the fuel leak in order to understand exactly what happened."

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2004.09.11.

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

MONZA. ITALY, September 11, 2004 - After making smooth progress yesterday in their preparations for the Italian Grand Prix, Minardi Cosworth staff today experienced a decidedly more problematic set of circumstances. Both Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni continued to work on developing a suitable chassis balance for the high-speed, low-downforce requirements of the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. Unfortunately, on his first lap out of the garage at the beginning of the second practice session of the morning, Baumgartner's car was hit by Giorgio Pantano's spinning Jordan as he turned into the Prima Variante. Luckily, the young Hungarian driver emerged unscathed from the heavy impact, but the tub of his Minardi Cosworth PS04B was seriously damaged.

In the intervening two hours between the end of the session and pre-qualifying, there was intense activity in the Minardi garage as mechanics and technicians prepared the spare car for Baumgartner to use in qualifying and completely dismantled the damaged chassis in readiness for building up a replacement. Impressively, all tasks were completed in time, and Bruni and Baumgartner went on to qualify 19th and 20th for tomorrow's final European round of the 2004 Formula One World Championship.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 24.808 secs Position: 19th

"The accident this morning was very unfortunate, and I was lucky, as the speed differential between my car and the car that hit me was much higher than at Spa two weeks ago. As for my qualifying run, I locked the brakes up going into the first chicane and slid across the first part of it, losing time in the process. Otherwise, the rest of the lap was better than on the previous run. In any event, I am happy with qualifying today and with the fact I didn't suffer any injuries in the accident."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 24.940 secs Position: 20th

"My qualifying lap was good and the car felt fine considering the strategy we have adopted for tomorrow, when it may well rain. I didn't make any obvious mistakes on my flying lap and the time was quite good, so I'm very happy with the work we've done today."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It hasn't been the greatest of days for the Minardi team. Two race weekends in succession, Zsolt was been taken out as a result of someone else's problems. This time, although the accident didn't look as dramatic as the one at Spa, the damage was far more serious, resulting in the total loss of the chassis. That's racing, however, and all in all, the team did well to get Zsolt settled in the spare car for qualifying. As for Gimmi, he's had a solid debut at his 'home' Grand Prix. Also on the positive side, it's good to see the encouraging lap times that have been set in preparation for tomorrow's race."

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2004.09.10.

GAS, GAS, GAS!

MONZA, ITALY, September 10, 2004 - Preparations for the final European round of the Formula One World Championship, the Italian Grand Prix, got under way today at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. Minardi Cosworth race drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni , and regular Friday tester, Bas Leinders, were all on track from the start of today's first official practice session, aiming to build on the productive work carried out by the team during last week's Monza test. The ultra-fast circuit, near Milan, rewards those teams that are able to run the lowest of possible downforce configurations on their cars while still retaining good cornering and braking stability.

In the morning session, it was Leinders who made the most demonstrable progress when it came to dealing with this balancing act involving straight-line speed versus grip, the Belgian recording the 20th fastest lap time (1 min 23.696 secs), but the second-highest "trap" speed - 361.0 kmh. Both Bruni and Baumgartner struggled initially to find a suitable chassis balance for the track conditions, but made solid progress during the course of the day. By the afternoon, they had closed the gap to their team mate, the three drivers completing the final session with just 0.2 seconds covering their fastest lap times.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 24.063 secs Position: 23rd

"It has been a good start for us. We struggled in the first session to match our test times here last week, but then we got closer in the second session. The situation wasn't helped by the fact the air temperature is different from what it was when we tested at Monza last week. We did some good work today, but we still have to find a good race balance for the chassis. I could definitely have gone quicker on my last run this afternoon, but was held up in traffic."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 24.045 secs Position: 22nd

"Today, we had a very good day. It was useful to have been testing here last week, and together with my engineer, we worked very well to find an improvement on the set-up from last week. It's why I was able to go quite fast in the morning session with low downforce. This resulted in setting one of the highest top speeds, but also made the car quite difficult in the braking areas. We completed the morning in 20th place, which was good. In the afternoon, we concentrated primarily on carrying out tyre comparisons, as usual, but I still managed to set a good time, even though the low-downforce configuration was not quite so effective in the higher temperatures. It might have been better with just a little more downforce in the afternoon session, but nonetheless, we had a productive day, the team worked very well, and we had no major problems."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 24.225 secs Position: 24th

"It was a good day overall. We made some useful changes to the car during the sessions, and as a result, I am quite confident for qualifying. The car felt good for the strategy we plan to use tomorrow, so I'm happy."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal

"It was an interesting day for the Minardi team in that we completed our entire test programme with all three cars. It's also always pleasing to end the day between the Jordans. It shows the testing we did here last week paid dividends, with Bas today almost equalling the team's best time set in testing. The drivers, and the whole team, did a great job as Minardi prepares for one of its 'home' races."

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2004.09.10.

3rd Annual Winning Attitudes Awards

The 3rd Annual Winning Attitudes Awards - Charity Dinner was a really emotive event that took place last Thursday at Monza. We got together all F3000 Team Members, Sponsors, Outstanding F1 Drivers, Press and FIA & FOM Authorities.

Ms. Penny Whitaker, coordinator of the F3000, began the ceremony with very emotive speeches which described the aim of this event and delivered a very special frame which includes a picture of the category signed by it main protagonists. Once more, Mr. Simon Arron hosted the dinner together with Nani Rodríguez, sister of the honored Uruguayan driver Gonzalo Rodríguez.

Ms. Penny Whitaker, Mr. Charlie Whiting, Mr. Juan Pablo Montoya, Mr. Bjorn Wirdheim, and Mr. Claudio Giovannone gave out the awards of the evening and shared a great time with friends.

The event was a complete success: All the F3000 family together the FIA authorities, sponsors and lots of Formula One drivers supporting the event and the Memorial Foundation: Juan Pablo Montoya (BMW Williams), Takuma Sato (BAR Honda), Zsolt Baumgartner (Minardi), Bas Leinders (Minardi), Giorgio Pantano (Jordan), Nick Heidfeld (Jordan), Mark Webber (Jaguar), Bjorn Wirdheim (Jaguar), Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren Mercedes) and Ricardo Zonta (Toyota).

This was a unique evening for what people at races are used to. People shared a very relaxed atmosphere demonstrating that there is place for social caring in motoracing. The 280 people who assisted were really surprised and enjoyed a very emotive dinner where all the present paid tribute to the beloved Uruguayan driver and also contributed with the unprivileged children.

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2004.09.02.

WORK ONGOING

MONZA, ITALY, September 2, 2004 - The second day of the FIA Formula One test at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza saw Minardi Cosworth drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni , both in action. Bruni drove briefly during the morning session, a gearbox problem bringing his planned technical programme to a premature conclusion after 12 laps.

Once the gearbox problem had been rectified, Baumgartner took over, driving throughout the afternoon session and concentrating on tyre assessment and chassis set-up.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER

"I'm happy with what we accomplished today, even though the gearbox problem we had this morning reduced our planned running time a little bit. We tried a number of tyre compounds from Bridgestone, as well as some different car set-ups and control software. We seemed to go in a good direction right away, so I think we are in an improved position compared with last year."

GIANMARIA BRUNI

"I'm obviously a little disappointed that we weren't able to complete our full programme this morning, which was to have included further tyre evaluation plus chassis set-up work for next weekend's Italian Grand Prix. Unfortunately, a gearbox problem prevented us from completing everything we had planned for today, but I'm sure we'll be fine for Monza."

MASSIMO RIVOLA, Team Manager

"Generally, the test has gone very well for the team. We experienced some small problems, but these things can happen. We have found what we think is close to an optimum set-up for the Italian Grand Prix weekend. Undoubtedly, all the other teams will have made progress too, but hopefully, the work we've done here will ensure we are a little closer to our rivals at Monza in 10 days' time. The team would like to extend its thanks to Bridgestone, whose assistance has definitely helped to ensure this was a good test for Minardi. It's also the case that the whole team deserves a special vote of thanks. There are just over 100 people working at the Minardi factory in Faenza, and with tests at Monza and Vallelunga this week, damaged cars from Belgium to be repaired, and a Minardi F1 two-seater event this weekend in Switzerland, everyone has been working incredibly hard. Finally, on a personal note, we were very relieved to see Michael (Schumacher) walk away apparently unhurt from what was clearly a serious accident at Monza this afternoon, and we wish him all the best."

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2004.08.31.

MINARDI AND COSWORTH CONFIRM FOR 2005

FAENZA, ITALY, August 31, 2004 - The Minardi F1 Team is today pleased to announce that it has successfully concluded an agreement with current engine partner, Cosworth Racing, for the supply of power units in 2005. The new arrangement will result in Minardi being provided with the Cosworth TJ engine, the same powerful, 90-degree V10 used by Jaguar. It will provide the Faenza-based team with the opportunity for significantly enhanced performance from its 2005 car.

"Cosworth Racing is very happy to renew its partnership with Minardi for 2005," comments the company's Commercial Director, Bernard Ferguson. "We have long-standing ties with the team, and continue to feel that its fighting spirit and independent status in Formula One render it a more-than-worthy partner. As ever, the new season will bring with it fresh technical challenges for the engine manufacturers, as well as the need for near-continuous performance improvement combined with a very high level of reliability. We believe the Cosworth Racing TJ power unit will help to provide Minardi with a strong package next year."

Announcing the agreement, Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, said, "Cosworth has been a great technical partner, providing the team with powerful, reliable, and cost-effective engines. This latest arrangement, which will see Minardi running the same top Cosworth power units as Jaguar, will undoubtedly give Minardi a considerable boost by providing the team with the opportunity to fight some of its F1 rivals on a more level 'playing field'. On a personal note, I very much look forward to continuing with what has become a truly excellent relationship."

The final specification and technical details of the power units to be supplied to Minardi in 2005 will be confirmed once the Formula One technical regulations for next season have been officially confirmed.

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2004.08.29.

BAD LUCK IN BELGIUM

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM, August 29, 2004 - Cosworth Minardi personnel had high hopes for a strong showing from drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni in today's Belgian Grand Prix.

After making an impressively quick start, Bruni's chances unfortunately expired in a "chain-reaction" accident on the first lap. While trying to avoid Sato's spinning BAR at Raidillon, his car was hit from behind by Baumgartner, and the ensuing contact with the barriers eliminated him from any further competition. Baumgartner survived the incident, but was forced to stop at the pits at the end of the opening lap to have the damaged nose of his car replaced. He then settled into a creditably consistent pace and climbed as high as 13th position before his second pit stop. His excellent run continued until the 30th lap of the race, when he was taken out of the Grand Prix in dramatic fashion after a rear tyre on Jenson Button's BAR exploded and launched the Briton's car at high speed into the side of the Minardi. Happily, the young Hungarian was uninjured in the accident, but his strong drive thus ended in retirement rather than the very likely ninth place he would have claimed at the chequered flag if he been able to finish the race.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 51.031 secs Position: DNF

"We had a very good race and were consistently quicker than the Jordans. As a result, I was extremely happy with our race performance while we were running. I was really unlucky with the situation that developed with Button when he was right next to me and his tyre exploded, but it happened. I could not have done more today, but I would like to congratulate Michael for taking his seventh World Championship and Kimi for winning today's Belgian Grand Prix.."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: No time Position: DNF

"I made a very good start, was able to pass lots of cars, and was 14th going through Eau Rouge. Then Sato spun, and as he was coming back on the circuit, I lifted off a little and my team mate hit me from behind. That knocked me into the barrier and ended my race. It was a very unfortunate incident."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"This was another case of the team deserving a better result than it actually achieved, especially as this was clearly Minardi's best-performing weekend of the year. To be involved in someone else's accident on the first lap, which eliminated Gimmi, and then for Zsolt to be the victim of what looks like a tyre blow-out on Jenson's car and taken out of the race, it's just really a sad way to finish the day. Both race drivers, our Friday test driver, Bas, and the whole team, have performed excellently this weekend. It's a shame the results don't reflect just how good a performance it was."

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2004.08.28.

DODGING THE SHOWERS

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM, August 28, 2004 - A combination of driving skill, good fortune and benevolent weather gods helped Minardi Cosworth achieve one of its better qualifying results of the season at the Spa Francorchamps circuit this afternoon. Drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni wrung the maximum from their cars in the treacherously slippery conditions created by torrential rain that soaked the famous Belgian circuit.

In fact, the weather in the Ardennes region was very much the talking point of the day, the rain and accompanying mist that greeted F1 teams on Saturday morning forcing a delay, and eventual shortening, of the two scheduled 45-minute practice sessions. Drivers thus had only 15 minutes and a handful of laps to acclimatise to the wet track and prepare for qualifying. Unfortunately, Bruni was one of the casualties of this "pressure cooker" situation, his car aquaplaning on standing water and crashing at turn eight. Happily, the young Roman suffered nothing worse than a bruised knee in the impact, while his Minardi Cosworth PS04B required only relatively minor repairs before it was ready for qualifying action. With the forecast indicating similarly unpredictable weather tomorrow, there is every indication the 2004 Belgian Grand Prix is going to be an action-packed one.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 2 min 03.303 secs Position: 18th

"I think it has been a good day. We ran well in the pre-qualifying session and, despite the wet weather, I felt very comfortable with the car. It was a shame in the qualifying run, though, that I couldn't equal, or improve on, my previous lap time. Unfortunately, I made a couple of mistakes in sectors two and three that cost me quite a bit of time. The car is good, though, and we hope tomorrow will be wet, as it will improve our chances of a good result."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 2 min 02.651 secs Position: 17th

"This was a good qualifying session for me without any mistakes. It was a pity that I wasn't able to drive for many laps this morning, as we weren't able to find the perfect chassis set-up. The car felt a bit different in qualifying from the way it did this morning, and was not so easy to drive. If everything had been perfect, I think I could have qualified perhaps two positions farther up the grid. I have to say, though, the guys did a great job today, and I want to thank them for all their effort."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"All weekend, the team has performed competitively against its nearest rivals. To finish today's qualifying session between the Jordans and ahead of a Toyota is proof of an excellent effort and a job well done by both drivers and all team members. Let's hope tomorrow delivers Minardi a just result."

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2004.08.27.

STRONG START AT SPA

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM, August 27, 2004 - Today's opening practice sessions for the Belgian Grand Prix saw Minardi Cosworth drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni, plus Friday test driver, Bas Leinders, all having their first experience of F1 performance around this legendary 6.973-km circuit, located deep in the Ardennes forests.

Initially reporting that the track surface was lacking in grip and dirty off the racing line, all three drivers concentrated on adjusting the chassis balance of their cars to cope with Spa's high-speed swoops and dips. At the conclusion of the second of Friday's two one-hour sessions, it was Baumgartner who had set the fastest time of the Minardi drivers, recording an impressive lap of 1 min 48.687 secs. Leinders, with his "local knowledge" of the Belgian track, and Bruni also produced solid lap times, indicating the team had made good progress in terms of its preparations for what should be an exciting, and possibly unpredictable race on Sunday afternoon.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 48.687 secs Position: 20th

"It was a good day for us and I'm happy with the time we set. Straightaway, I think we went in a good direction with the car set-up and the overall balance. We knew that our car could be relatively competitive on a fast circuit like this because the straight-line speed is good. Spa is my favourite track, so I'm very happy that I was able to be quick throughout the day."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 49.480 secs Position: 24th

"First of all, I would like to thank Paul and the team for the special effort they have made to give me a good-performing car for Spa. I am pleased with the day's work in general, especially this morning. We encountered a problem this afternoon with tyre pressures, and although the situation improved in the end, we lost some set-up time as a result. Overall, though, it has definitely been a constructive day, and it was absolutely a great feeling to take Eau Rouge 'flat' in front of my home crowd."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 49.742 secs Position: 25h

"I'm not particularly happy with today's performance, which should have been much better. I particularly want to understand what happened in the final run this afternoon, which ought to have been a lot quicker. We'll have a long, hard look at the data and aim to improve tomorrow."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal

"This has to be one of the best Friday performances for Minardi in many a Grand Prix weekend. I was particularly pleased for Bas at his 'home' Grand Prix, who finished a very credible P21 in the first session, while Zsolt's performance in the second session, which saw him ahead of all three Jordans, as well as his two team mates, was exceptional. All three drivers produced commendably consistent lap times today, and we'd like to extend our thanks to Cosworth, for the fantastic engines, and to Bridgestone, for some great tyres."

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2004.08.24.

TESTING TIMES

FAENZA, ITALY, August 24, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth today confirms its provisional testing schedule for the next two months.

The busy programme will involve the Faenza team's regular race drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, Friday test driver, Bas Leinders, contracted test drivers, Tiago Monteiro and Sergey Zlobin, and promising young Australian drivers, Will Davison and Will Power. The schedule is as follows:

Monza, Italy, September 1-3 (FIA test)

Drivers: Gianmaria Bruni, Zsolt Baumgartner, Bas Leinders

Vallelunga, Italy, September 2-3

Drivers: Sergey Zlobin, Tiago Monteiro

Vallelunga, Italy, November 9-10

Drivers: Sergey Zlobin, Will Davison, Will Power

In addition, Bruni, Baumgartner and Leinders, plus former Grand Prix driver turned television commentator, Christian Danner, will participate in an important Minardi F1x2 event at the Lodrino di Biasca airbase in Switzerland, on September 4-5, on behalf of commercial partner, Connect Communication AG. This will mark the first occasion the Minardi two-seater F1 cars have run in Switzerland.

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2004.08.15.

CHEQUERED FLAG FOR ZSOLT AND BRUNI IN BUDAPEST

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, August 15, 2004 - After a couple of tricky moments at the beginning of today's Hungarian Grand Prix, the race settled into a consistent rhythm for Minardi Cosworth drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, and the Faenza squad had the satisfaction of seeing its cars take the chequered flag in 14th and 15th places respectively.

The engine in Bruni's car stalled on the formation lap, when the young Italian was forced to brake sharply to avoid a car slowing suddenly in front of him. The engine was quickly restarted, however, and Bruni took his appointed grid slot for the race, thereafter driving in determined fashion and setting some nicely consistent lap times on the way to the chequered flag. An apparent sensor problem on the formation lap saw Baumgartner dive for the pits to have the matter rectified. He therefore started his "home" Grand Prix from the pit lane, but soon caught up with the battling field. Unfortunately, he then lost time on the second of his three scheduled stops, when the engine of his car stalled and had to be restarted in the pit lane. Despite the disappointment, Baumgartner put in a gritty performance once back on track, and had the satisfaction of taking the chequered flag in front of an enthusiastic Hungarian crowd.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: 15th

"I'm pleased to have finished the race, of course, but from my point of view, I didn't have a particularly successful race today. I was happy yesterday, because I was able to show the Hungarian crowd that we could produce a good qualifying performance. Unfortunately, on the formation lap for today's race, I had a problem with the car and had to come to the pits for the guys to fix it. Then, on my second pit stop, the engine stalled and we lost time while it was restarted. This is one of the races where you can lose a lot of time allowing faster cars to overtake, and I didn't manage that as well as I could have. As a result, I really didn't have a chance to show what I could do, and feel disappointed for the Hungarian fans. We'll just have to aim to have a better race next time."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: 14th

"Generally, it was a good race for me, and I'm pleased to have taken the chequered flag. When we left the grid for the formation lap, Pantano's Jordan suddenly slowed in front of me, and I wasn't quick enough pulling the clutch. As a result, the engine stalled. Once the race got going, though, there were no real problems. I was able to turn some good, consistent lap times and my engineer adjusted the tyre pressures before the pit stops so the car remained well balanced and easy to drive throughout the race. In fact, the most difficult moments came when I had to move over to allow faster cars through and got on to the dirty part of the track. As you can see by the lap times, when I was on my own, the performance was good. I want to thank the guys for the excellent pit stops this afternoon - the first and second ones, in particular, were very quick. I'm happy with today's race.

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It's good to get two cars home to the finish, and it was particularly pleasing to see Zsolt take the chequered flag in front of the Hungarian fans, with whom he is so popular. Obviously, we struggled a little bit for race pace today, but on the positive side, our reliability is shining through. At the moment, given the current budgetary constraints, that's the best we can expect."

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2004.08.14.

A PLEASING PERFORMANCE

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, August 14, 2004 - The grid positions achieved by Minardi Cosworth drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni for tomorrow's Hungarian Grand Prix - P18 and P19 respectively - did not do justice to the fully committed performances turned in by both men on the challenging Hungaroring circuit this afternoon.

They marked the culmination of what turned out to be a very positive day for the Faenza team, Baumgartner and Bruni continuing to make good progress with chassis set-up during the final two official practice sessions on Saturday morning.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 24.329 secs Position: 18th

"I'm very happy with the performance today in front of my home crowd and I hope tomorrow we will have a reliable car so that I can finish the race. That is the main goal for me this weekend, as I wasn't able to finish here last year. Once again, the team did a great job today because we worked a lot on the car balance and made good progress. I was really happy about that, and I hope we can now have a successful race."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 24.679 secs Position: 19th

"I'm happy. Everything went well considering the sort of race strategy we have settled on for tomorrow. I was expecting a slower lap time in qualifying than I actually achieved, so now I'm hoping for a good race."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Despite lining up P18 and P19 for tomorrow's race, the Minardi team can be pleased with its efforts today, as we have been, on average, 3.5 seconds a lap quicker than we were here last year. As always, we will be aiming for reliability in tomorrow's race where, weather conditions permitting, there may be a chance to score a point. The Hungarian fans have really adopted Minardi as their own this weekend, and it was truly touching to hear the loudest cheers today when Zsolt crossed the line in qualifying. A point tomorrow would be truly memorable."

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2004.08.13.

ZSOLT COMES HOME

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, August 13, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth launched into the first official day of the Hungarian Grand Prix - home race for driver, Zsolt Baumgartner - and made steady progress during Friday's two one-hour sessions. There was a minor hiccough for the Budapest-based driver, when his car coasted into the pits 20 minutes into the morning session, the result of a sensor problem. This was rectified, however, and he was soon back on track.

By comparison, team mate, Gianmaria Bruni, had an uninterrupted opening session at the Hungaroring, although in common with Baumgartner and Minardi test driver, Bas Leinders, he found himself grappling with a strongly oversteering chassis, possibly the result of a relatively dirty track surface. Unfortunately, the afternoon session was less successful for him, as his car spun at turn 11 on the fourth lap out of the pits, and became stuck in the gravel. The team took the opportunity of the "maximum-downforce" nature of the Hungaroring to try several new components on the Minardi Cosworth PS04B today, all of which showed promise. The team looks forward to making further progress tomorrow.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 25.450 secs Position: 24nd

"I'm satisfied even if we still have to find the perfect chassis set-up for tomorrow. Bas did a very good job today. He has tested new parts, which proved to be successful. It is very important that tomorrow we find the correct set-up for both the qualifying session and the race. I hope to be able to get close to the Jordans, as to reduce the gap to them is something I really like! If we are able to get ahead of them here in Hungary, that would be fantastic. I was really excited to be able to drive in front of so many Hungarian fans here today, all supporting me at my home race. I hope to be able to do a really good job for them over the next few days."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 26.365 secs Position: 25th

"It was okay at the beginning, but then we changed the car for the second session compared with how we started the morning. Unfortunately, I made a mistake at turn 11 on my first run of the afternoon and the car became stuck in the gravel, so that was the day finished. It's really a pity, but we will aim to improve tomorrow."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal

"It has been a case of mixed fortunes during the first day of the Hungarian Grand Prix, which is an important event for the team, as it is Zsolt's 'home' race. While the morning session went smoothly enough, Gimmi failed to return to the garage on his first run of the afternoon, and Zsolt, sadly, lost time on what should have been his fastest run of the day due to traffic. Bas, on the other hand, had an excellent day, completing his full technical programme and setting the fastest time of the Minardi drivers. We now look forward to making further progress tomorrow."

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2004.08.09.

ZLOBIN TO RESUME TEST PROGRAMME

FAENZA, ITALY, August 9, 2004 - The Minardi Cosworth team is pleased to announce that Russian driver, Sergey Zlobin, has signed to continue his testing programme with the Faenza squad. The Moscow-based racer - the first Russian to drive a modern Formula One car - initially tested for Minardi in 2002, and made steady progress in the course of three sessions with the team, at the Fiorano, Valencia and Mugello circuits, covering 840 kms in total.

Zlobin will now embark on an intensive test schedule, commencing at the end of August and concluding in December. The programme is enthusiastically supported by successful Russian businessman, Alexy Zborovskiy, who has long harboured the desire to bring Formula One to his home country.

"We are very pleased to welcome Sergey back to Minardi in order that he can resume the testing programme he commenced with us in 2002," comments Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "Considering the ever-increasing interest in Formula One in the countries of eastern Europe, I think it's very important that the sport should be working towards the ultimate goal of having a Russian driver in its ranks. Sergey is approaching his involvement in F1 very sensibly, and we will continue to do everything we can to assist him to progress his driving career to the highest possible level."

Sergey Zlobin - biographical details

Born: Moscow, Russia
Date of birth: May 29, 1970
Resides: Moscow
Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 72 kg
Marital status: married, three children
Hobbies: karting, motor sport
Favourite meal: Japanese food, sushi, sashimi
Favourite drink: carrot juice

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2004.07.28.

STATEMENT REGARDING WILUX

FAENZA, ITALY, July 28, 2004 - The Minardi F1 Team has today released the following statement regarding its relationship with Wilux B.V. Netherlands:

"Due to irreconcilable differences concerning, among other things, the decision by Minardi to run without sponsorship livery in the 2004 British Grand Prix and the decision by Wilux not to adhere to contractual payments, sadly, the sponsorship agreement between Wilux and Minardi has been terminated today. The Team wishes Wilux every success in the future."

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2004.07.25.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY, July 25, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth today experienced a satisfying German Grand Prix, drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni both taking the chequered flag after very consistent performances in the 66-lap race.

The only real moment of concern came when Bruni arrived at the pits for the first of his three scheduled stops with damage to the barge boards on the left side of the car. These were removed by the mechanics, although the work necessitated extra time in the pits. Once he had rejoined the race, however, Bruni pressed on in determined fashion, 17th place being his eventual reward for what had been a gritty drive. Baumgartner had a less eventful German Grand Prix, and after slipping by his team mate on the opening lap, ran three commendably consistent stints to finish 16th.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: 16th

"I had a normal start, but then managed to get by Gimmi on the first lap and pull away a little bit. The balance was pretty consistent during each of the stints and there were no technical problems with the car. The last 20 laps were really hard, though, particularly through the stadium section - and I've got blisters on my hands to prove it! Overall, though, I'm happy to be going into the Hungarian Grand Prix in three weeks having achieved a positive result here. I'm really hoping for a good race at my home Grand Prix for all the Hungarian fans I know will be there."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: 17th

"I made a good start, but the engine was a little over-full with oil for the first seven or eight laps. It cleaned up after that, and as my lap times in the second two stints show, I was able to get down quite easily to the low 1 minute 19 second bracket. I had a problem with one of the bargeboards on my car and the guys worked on it when I came in for my first pit stop. Unfortunately, that cost me about a minute, and it was at that point I lost any real chance of challenging my team mate today. Once I was back on the track, though, I pushed as hard as I could and was able to reduce the gap to Zsolt by 20 seconds, so all in all, I think I did the best possible in the circumstances today."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It was a good race from the Minardi viewpoint, and both drivers can take a lot of credit for their performances here today. Zsolt was very consistent in his early race stints and handled the traffic well. Gimmi had a barge board problem that had to be rectified at the first stop, but his pace in the next two stints was good, especially considering he set his fastest lap times with only the main barge board on the right side of the car still in place. Despite finishing P16 and P17 today, I think Zsolt and Gimmi drove good, consistent races. It was an excellent team effort this afternoon."

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2004.07.24.

A BALANCED APPROACH

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY, July 24, 2004 - Other than a small excursion over a curb early on in the day, which damaged the front wing of Zsolt Baumgartner's car, Minardi Cosworth enjoyed a trouble-free final day of preparations for tomorrow's German Grand Prix.

Heavy overnight rain washed the surface of the Hockenheimring clean and, combined with lower ambient temperatures, meant Baumgartner and team mate, Gianmaria Bruni, spent much of Saturday's two morning practice sessions readjusting the balance of their respective chassis to the new track conditions and working with different fuel loads. The technical programme was productive, and although Bruni and Baumgartner will line up in 19th and 20th places on the grid tomorrow, both drivers have high hopes for a positive outcome to the race.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 18.400 secs Position: 20th

"As far as the qualifying run was concerned, we were missing a bit on chassis balance today and, as a result, I was struggling particularly in the Stadium section. My first two sector times were similar to Gimmi's, but then I lost quite a bit in the final section. Generally, today we weren't able to find a satisfactory balance as quickly as we did yesterday, and the situation wasn't helped by the fact I made a mistake in the first session this morning and lost time while the car was repaired. As a result, I wasn't able to do as much running as I would have liked. Even so, I think we can have a strong car tomorrow and a good race."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 18.055 secs Position: 19th

"I'm quite happy. I had a good qualifying lap, considering the fuel we were carrying, and we were quite close to the right balance for the load we have. The guys also did a really good job today, and now I'm looking forward to the race."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Both drivers put in quite good performances in today's sessions and completed their technical programmes. I was particularly pleased with pre-qualifying this afternoon, which showed that we are as close to the Jordans as we expected to be. Gimmi and Zsolt will line up at the back of the grid for the German Grand Prix, but race strategy involves different fuel loads, and we have a healthy fuel load for tomorrow's race. We look forward to an interesting race here at Hockenheim."

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2004.07.23.

HOT STUFF

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY, July 23, 2004 - With track temperatures over 50 deg C and the air temperature hovering around 34 deg C at the Hockenheimring, preparations for this Sunday's German Grand Prix posed even more of a challenge today than normal. Nonetheless, Minardi Cosworth race drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, plus test driver, Bas Leinders, worked steadily through their assigned technical tasks for the opening day of the 12th round of the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship.

As usual, the primary focus was on achieving a satisfactory chassis balance around Hockenheim's twists and turns, and evaluating the tyre choices available from technical partner, Bridgestone, this weekend. Progress was made in all areas, and the team looks forward to another productive day tomorrow.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 18.098 secs Position: 22nd

"It wasn't too bad a day. We found a good balance for the car, although we need to work on it just a bit more tomorrow. I'm very happy that we were able to run both sessions without any problems and particularly want to thank the guys for all their hard work in this heat. I'm now looking forward to tomorrow and hoping to be able to perform to a similar level."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 18.224 secs Position: 23rd

"We tested a few small things today to improve the balance of the car. We lost a little time in the morning while an electronics matter was dealt with, but we were able to make the time up by the end of the session. In the afternoon, we started out with an oversteer problem, which we solved, but then we created another problem that couldn't be adjusted out before the end of the session. We were also losing some time on the straight in the afternoon. Generally, though, I'm pleased with the lap time we achieved at the end, as it shows I can be on the pace of Gimmi and Zsolt."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 18.309 secs Position: 25th

"It turned out okay in the end. I had a problem on my first run, so I set my quickest lap of the day during my second run this afternoon. The guys found a hydraulic problem in the last few laps of the second session, and it seems it was that which caused me some difficulty in downshifting. Apart from those small things, though, it has been a good day and we were able to make a good tyre choice. We'll see how we go tomorrow."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal

"Today saw all three Minardi drivers compete their full technical programme in preparation for Sunday's German GP. The times were very respectable and it's always pleasing to see us in among the Jordans."

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2004.07.11.

MINARDI REMEMBERS JOHN

SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, July 11, 2004 - In a heartfelt tribute to Sporting Director, John Walton, who died late Friday night following a serious heart attack earlier in the week, the cars of the Minardi Cosworth team competed in today's British Grand Prix devoid of any corporate identification. Prior to the start of the race, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni were both determined to reach the chequered flag as a fitting tribute to the man who regularly directed the team's race strategy from the pit wall.

Despite a strong start to the Grand Prix, which saw the drivers setting very similar lap times in their first two stints, both men encountered problems as the event progressed. Baumgartner retired his car on lap 30 of the race with an engine problem, while Bruni was assessed a drive-through penalty just prior to the second of his three scheduled pit stops for an alleged infringement of the blue-flag regulation. During that pit stop, a misunderstanding saw Bruni attempt to leave the Minardi pit before the refuelling nozzle had been fully disengaged from the car, several members of the crew sustaining minor injuries as a result. After that, Bruni drove tenaciously to claim 16th place at the chequered flag. The team wishes to express its heartfelt thanks to an overwhelming majority of its commercial and technical partners for their agreement in running the Minardi entries without livery today as a mark of respect for John.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: DNF

"I'm upset that I wasn't able to finish the race and take the chequered flag today. I had promised myself that I would do it, both for John and for me. I felt my performance was okay today - when you compare my lap times with Gimmi's, there was very little between us, and I also managed to overtake him after the first pit stop. There was some close, but very fair racing between us before my car suffered an engine problem. Everybody worked really hard this weekend in difficult circumstances, and I want to thank the team for that. I just hope we have much better luck at the next race."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: 16th

"It was a difficult race today with a number of problems, but I'm pleased that I was able to take the flag as a tribute to John. I was struggling with the handling of the car for quite a bit of the race, and was then given a drive-through penalty for a blue-flag infringement. I also had a problem with my second pit stop, when a misunderstanding meant that I left the box too soon. Fortunately, none of the crew was seriously injured, and after that, I was just determined to get to the end of the race. It has been a tough weekend, and I hope we have much a better time at Hockenheim."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"I'm deeply touched by the level of support Minardi has received this weekend. It really does show that Formula One is far more of a family than people realise, but most importantly, it shows just how popular a figure John Walton was in the F1 community. As for today's race, Minardi got one car to the chequered flag, thus bringing to a conclusion what has been an enormously difficult weekend. I'm sure most people will understand that we have had a great deal on our minds, and I'm truly proud of the effort the whole team has put in."

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2004.07.10.

DOING IT FOR JOHN

SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, July 10, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth staff today did what they knew their Sporting Director, John Walton, would have wanted them to do, and that was to get on with the business of preparing for tomorrow's British Grand Prix.

After receiving the profoundly sad news from Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, that John had passed away in hospital overnight following a serious heart attack early last Tuesday morning in London, team members took the decision, as a mark of respect, not to run in Saturday's opening practice session. After that, however, it was a case of concentrating on the business at hand, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni working with their engineers to fine-tune the handling of their cars in qualifying and race trim. As on Friday, the team made useful progress for tomorrow's race.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 24.117

"Today is a very sad day for all the team. I have mixed feelings about my qualifying performance. Probably, I could have achieved a better qualifying lap time this afternoon, considering the quicker runs I did this morning, but unfortunately, I made a couple of mistakes. The guys did a fantastic job today, particularly between the two sessions this afternoon, when they had to fix a problem with an anti-roll bar, which was not so easy. Now we'll aim for a good race tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 23.437

"For me, it was generally a good lap. It should have been faster, but I lost a couple of tenths in the Complex. To be honest, like everyone on the team, I wasn't feeling great after the news this morning. I hope I can get my mind clear tomorrow and do a good race for John."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Under very difficult circumstances, the Minardi team completed today's running and will line up P18 and P19 for tomorrow's British Grand Prix. I must confess that our thoughts are with John, and his family and friends, at this extremely sad time. Tomorrow, however, there will be a serious effort to get two Minardis to the chequered flag in memory of one of the greatest guys in this Paddock."

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2004.07.10.

JOHN WALTON

SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, July 10, 2004 - The Minardi F1 Team is profoundly saddened to report that its Sporting Director, John Walton, passed away peacefully at 23:18 last night at St Thomas's Hospital, in London, with his family at his bedside.

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2004.07.09.

STAYING FOCUSSED

SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, July 9, 2004 - As was the case at the French Grand Prix last weekend, Minardi Cosworth had a very productive initial day of preparations for Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The Faenza squad's regular race drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, plus official test driver, Bas Leinders, were all out on track early, and progressed steadily through the normal Friday technical programme. Leinders chose to go in a slightly different "direction" with chassis set-up from his team mates, and it obviously paid off, as his best lap clearly demonstrated. Even though Minardi team members were fully focussed on their work today, there was no doubt that their private thoughts were very much with Minardi Sporting Director, John Walton.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER

"We were able to find a good balance for the car, just like we had in Magny-Cours, so it has been a useful day. Unfortunately, in the second session, we had a small gearbox problem, which lost me some valuable track time while it was fixed. That is the reason I was not able to achieve as quick a lap time as I would have liked today."

GIANMARIA BRUNI

"It's not been a bad day at all, but it would have been even better if I hadn't been caught up in traffic on what should have been my quickest lap - it definitely lost me a couple of tenths. I'm also pleased that we were able to try different set-ups today. Bas went in a different direction, and the results look good, so we'll perhaps try that tomorrow. We've done some good work today, and now it would be fantastic if we could hear some good news concerning John. We really miss him."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver

"I'm very pleased with the work we've done today, as we were able to improve the car so it was to my liking. We suffered a little with understeer throughout the day, but improved the balance as the sessions went on. I had a potentially good lap under way this afternoon, but Glock went off and I slowed, losing a good three-tenths of a second. If that hadn't happened, I would have been 21st behind Heidfeld. We're definitely going in the right direction."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"As many people are aware, Minardi has had a tough week with the news that its much-loved Sporting Director, John Walton, suffered a serious heart attack in the early hours of last Tuesday morning. It goes without saying that all the team's thoughts throughout this weekend are with John's family and friends. The team has pulled together and is determined to put up a strong showing at Silverstone, and today's efforts by all three drivers showed we are doing exactly that."

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2004.07.08.

A SENSE OF GREAT OCCASION

LONDON, ENGLAND, July 8, 2004 - The Minardi F1x2 team has participated in some exceptional events in the course of the last three years, but there is no doubt that last Tuesday's Formula One Comes to Regent Street was the most memorable yet.

Staged on a glorious summer evening before a massive, and enthusiastic, crowd in the heart of London's West End, the programme featured cars from eight of the current Formula One World Championship teams. Regular Minardi Cosworth driver, Zsolt Baumgartner, took the wheel of one of the team's fleet of eight two-seater F1 cars for the unique event, his passenger being Kylie Flynn, fiancée of Cantor Fitzgerald International CEO, Lee Amaitis, who bid a staggering $275,000 at this year's Monaco Grand Prix Ball charity auction to secure the ride.

For Minardi race driver, Zsolt Baumgartner, who drove an F1x2 car in front of a similarly rapturous crowd in his "home" city of Budapest earlier this year, it was an evening to remember. "I think these sorts of events, which bring F1 to the people in the big cities, are just great," he said. "The temporary course here on Regent Street was very tight and bumpy, so there wasn't much chance to show what a Formula One car could do, but even so, the crowd was amazing, and people have now had a chance to see and hear what F1 is like in the middle of London. It was also great to have Kylie as a passenger - she was really enthusiastic and I think enjoyed being a passenger in front such a huge crowd. It was a lot of fun."

It was left to Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, who had been present for much of the day in Regent Street, to sum up the occasion. "It has been an awesome evening - what an incredible sight to see Formula One cars running on the streets of London," he said. "Tonight, Londoners had the opportunity to experience F1 at its best, with eight out of the 10 World Championship teams performing in front of a massive crowd, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. In the case of Minardi, it was a particularly notable evening, as we ran one of our two-seater F1 cars with a very special passenger on board. Kylie Flynn has waited anxiously for this event since the charity auction at this year's Monaco Grand Prix Ball took place back in May, when a staggering $275,000 was raised for charity by this ride. Kylie obviously thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and will undoubtedly remember this evening for the rest of her life."

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2004.07.08.

UPDATE ON JOHN WALTON

FAENZA, ITALY, July 8, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth Sporting Director, John Walton, suffered a serious heart attack in the early hours of Monday morning, while in London to attend the Formula One Comes to Regent Street promotional event later that day.

He was rushed to the Cardiac Unit at St Thomas's Hospital for immediate treatment, and is currently classified as being in critical, but stable, condition.

"The whole Minardi team is both deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened," comments Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "John is not only a key figure in our management structure, but also one of the best-liked and most popular members of the Formula One fraternity. Our thoughts are very much with his family and loved ones at this time, but I also know from the huge number of messages we've received in the last 24 hours that John's many friends around the world are all pulling for him to get through this as well. Their support is greatly appreciated by everyone on the Minardi team at what is obviously a very difficult time."

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2004.07.08.

BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE PIT LANE

FAENZA, ITALY, July 8, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth today announces that it has signed an agreement with another Faenza-based company, Vire s.r.l., jointly to promote the innovative Trilly LED safety warning triangle.

Vire has come up with a novel development, which makes this internationally recognised breakdown symbol even more visible in potentially dangerous roadside situations: the reflective surface of the triangle is inset with a series of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) which flash brightly and can be seen even in strong sunlight.

By way of a practical, and relevant, test of the Trilly LED safety warning triangle, Minardi personnel incorporated two of the units on the front jack used by the team during pit stops in the course of last weekend's French Grand Prix. Minardi drivers Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner both reported that the brightly illuminated triangles made it easier than normal for them to locate the team's pit area as they arrived in the pit lane from the circuit. As a result, the modified jacks will now be incorporated in Minardi's regular array of pit equipment starting at this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Following the successful test, Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, commented, "We are pleased to cooperate with the Italian company, Vire s.r.l., in the promotion of the Trilly LED safety warning triangle and fully endorse this product, as we would any piece of equipment that can be shown to improve road safety. The fact that it has also proven its worth in the demanding environment of F1 is a bonus for us and a great testament to this worthwhile new product."

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2004.07.04.

MIXED FORTUNES AT MAGNY-COURS

NEVERS MAGNY-COURS, FRANCE, July 4, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth started today's French Grand Prix full of optimism following its point-scoring finish in the United States Grand Prix two weeks ago. Unfortunately, a combination of an extremely low rate of mechanical attrition among the team's rivals and a small driving error from Zsolt, which landed his car in the gravel at turn three on the 33rd lap of the race, put paid to the Faenza squad's hopes for a top-10 finish in today's event.

Nonetheless, Baumgartner's teammate, Gianmaria Bruni, provided the team with a degree of satisfaction. He made a good start, drove strongly, and enjoyed three superbly executed pit stops on his way to an 18th-place finish. Slightly disappointingly, the young Italian driver was not able to savour the sight of the chequered flag, though, as a gearbox problem meant he was requested to stop in the pits on the final lap of the race.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: DNF

"I made a good start and it was clear the car was nicely balanced. I was able to pass Gimmi straightaway, and although he re-passed me at Adelaide, I was able to push him hard after that. Unfortunately, though, I made a small mistake at turn three, soon after my second stop, and the car went into the gravel. I'm upset not to have been able to finish the race today. We'll just have to aim to do better in the next race, at Silverstone."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: 18th

"I had a good start and was really thinking we might have a good race, but the performance was compromised during the first 20 or 30 laps by some problems with the set-up of the car. In the last stint, however, we reset the tyre pressures and found the right balance. Mechanically, the car was fine, but unfortunately, right close to the end of the race the telemetry indicated there was a gearbox oil leak and the team asked me to come into the pits on the very last lap rather than risk some expensive damage. It's a shame not to have been able to take the chequered flag today, but we did the most we could."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Today's race was all about reliability and sadly, from Minardi's point of view, with only one mechanical retirement - that of Sato - the finish proved reasonably predictable. Both Minardi drivers were having a good scrap, with nothing much between them in terms of lap times, until Zsolt ended up in the gravel shortly after making his second pit stop. Gimmi, on the other hand, drove a solid race to get to the end. The team is now looking forward to Silverstone, which will pose a quite different set of technical challenges compared with Magny-Cours."

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2004.07.03.

POSITIVE SIGNS IN FRANCE

NEVERS MAGNY-COURS, FRANCE, July 3, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth carried on today where it left off after Friday's two initial practice sessions for the French Grand Prix, taking full advantage of the warm dry weather that followed yesterday's heavy showers. The team spent the morning further developing their chassis set-ups for both the afternoon qualifying sessions and tomorrow's race, making useful progress that was reflected in the lap times of both Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni.

The latter's car unfortunately suffered a small electrical problem just before the halfway point of the second session, which left him stranded on the track. Despite the setback, however, the signs remained positive and Bruni went on to set a qualifying time just half-a-second off the Faenza squad's nearest rivals, with Baumgartner three-tenths of a second adrift of his team mate.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 18.247 secs Position: 20th

"Generally, I'm quite happy with our performance so far this weekend, and we made some good progress this morning. As far as qualifying was concerned, my run started very similarly to my best this morning, but then I made a mistake in the third sector and lost quite a lot of time. We have a good, consistent car with nice balance, however, and I hope we can carry this progress on with a good performance in tomorrow's race. If it rains, it will not be so bad for us, as the car performed well in the wet here on Friday. In fact, wet conditions might help us to have another race result like the one in Indianapolis, which would be great."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 17.913 secs Position: 19th

"To be half-a-second off the time of the Jordan is not too bad, especially since I made a mistake in the first sector on my qualifying run. I was just trying a bit too hard and lost a couple of tenths of a second as a result. Otherwise, I was quite happy with my time. The guys did a good job sorting out a small electrical problem in the second session this morning. As a result of the time lost, though, it meant I didn't get to run with new tyres, so we went into qualifying a little bit blind, but it worked out okay in the end. I hope to have a positive race tomorrow and to take the chequered flag."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Both drivers put in credible performances today, with Zsolt showing good potential in this morning's second session with a 1 min 16.8 sec lap. Gimmi would undoubtedly have done the same sort of time if not for an electrical problem that cut his running short. With the team's fuel strategy in both qualifying sessions, however, it was never going to be possible to achieve those times in qualifying."

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2004.07.02.

DODGING THE SHOWERS

NEVERS-MAGNY COURS, FRANCE, July 2, 2004 - Like all other Formula One teams, Minardi Cosworth personnel today found themselves having to deal with highly changeable weather conditions during the first two official practice sessions for Sunday's French Grand Prix. In similar conditions last year, with heavy rain showers rolling in quickly across the nearby French countryside and soaking the track, Minardi achieved one of its most notable results of the season by posting the fastest time in the Friday qualifying session.

Demonstrating that the Minardi chassis continues to be effective on this sinewy French circuit in such changeable weather conditions, drivers Gianmaria Bruni and Bas Leinders posted the seventh and eighth fastest times in today's opening session, although the team's advantage fell away in the afternoon session, as the circuit dried out. Even so, the times recorded by Bruni, Zsolt Baumgartner and Leinders were pleasingly close to their nearest rivals, and make the team cautiously optimistic about the possibility of a positive result this weekend.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 19.636 secs Position: 24th

"I was happy with the wet conditions and didn't find the track too bad at all. The mechanics had to work really hard changing tyres and resetting the car as the track surface either became wet or dried out. They did a great job. I was a little bit upset that I wasn't able to achieve the lap time that we felt should have been possible today, but I was happy with my performance in the wet conditions. We'll be hoping for some rain in the race."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 19.349 secs Position: 22nd

"It was a very changeable day from a weather standpoint. We started with dry tyres, then went to shallow wets, then full wets, and then back to shallow wets and dries again! At the end of the day, it was okay, although we weren't able to show our real pace. I'm sure tomorrow will be a better day, and I'm looking forward to making further progress."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 19.914 secs Position: 25th

"Obviously, the rain interrupted our normal Friday programme, and we also lost some time with electrical problems in the first session and then an engine misfire in the second. Even so, we managed to find a set-up that produced good chassis stability in the corners, and as a result, the lap times were quite good, all things considered."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Two of the Minardi drivers found themselves in seventh and eighth positions at the end of the first official practice session this morning, and indeed, all three drivers were holding their own in the rain-affected second session before the track dried out. It's clear both our drivers and our cars react well in these conditions, helped enormously by our Bridgestone tyres. Let's hope these conditions prevail, as they will allow Minardi to fight for a higher-than-normal grid position."

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2004.06.20.

THE SWEET TASTE OF A POINT

INDIANAPOLIS, USA, June 20, 2004 - There were podium-magnitude celebrations in the Minardi Cosworth garage at the end of today's United States Grand Prix as the Faenza squad's Zsolt Baumgartner scored the team's first point in 41 races.

In doing so, the Budapest-based driver assured himself of a place in motor racing history, as he became the first Hungarian Formula One driver to score a World Championship point. Both Baumgartner and team mate, Gianmaria Bruni, made good starts, but unfortunately, Bruni's race was over at the second corner when a collision involving the Jordan of Giorgio Pantano slightly bent the right front suspension of his car. Baumgartner made an early pit stop on lap nine, during the Safety Car period occasioned by Ralph Schumacher's heavy accident, and followed this up with two further, perfectly executed stops for fuel and tyres as he pounded home to the chequered flag and a well-deserved eighth-place finish.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 14.097 secs Position: 8th

"It's a great feeling to score a point - it's like a miracle happened today! On the first lap, I tapped the back of one of the Jordans when it braked hard to avoid an accident at Turn 2. Fortunately, there wasn't any serious damage and I was able to carry on. After that, the race settled down and I was able to set very consistent lap times, which were not so far off my qualifying time, so I was really pleased with that. There was some big pressure in those last few laps when I knew we were close to getting a point, and then I saw the Sauber slow and Paul came on the radio and told me I was in the points. We were close in Monaco, and now we've scored here, so I couldn't be happier. It's also great for the whole team, as everyone has been working so hard all season and deserves this result."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: No time Position: DNF

"I'm obviously really disappointed that my race ended so early, but I had a good start and then, in the second corner, one of the Jordans braked hard and chopped across me, hitting my right-front wheel with his left rear. The impact bent the front suspension of my car, and that was my race finished. I'm annoyed not to have had the chance to race here in the United States, but also upset for the guys, who again put in a lot of effort this weekend."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"What a fantastic ending to an action-packed United States Grand Prix! Firstly, our thoughts are with Ralph after his heavy accident, although we understand from first reports that he's okay. That aside, this race had everything, and when a team like Minardi that struggles so hard against the odds scores a point, it is an occasion for great celebration. As for Zsolt, what can I say? He has driven with tremendous maturity all weekend and his pace has been strong and consistent. Today's result was just reward for a gritty performance because, as we all know, to finish first, first you have to finish. As the first Hungarian Formula One driver to score a World Championship point, he will go down in history, and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. To all the people on the team who work week in and week out for so little reward, I can only say 'well done'!"

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2004.06.19.

CHASING THE TRACK

INDIANAPOLIS, USA, June 19, 2004 - Among the oval-racing fraternity, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is particularly notable for the fact that a change in the track temperature of just a very few degrees can make a significant difference to the amount of grip available. The same appears to apply to the Speedway's road circuit, site of tomorrow's United States Grand Prix. Minardi Cosworth drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni both set commendable times in this morning's third and fourth practice sessions, having developed a good chassis balance for their cars.

With the ambient temperature rising noticeably as the afternoon's all-important qualifying runs approached, however, track conditions changed and both men found their cars had developed marked oversteer once they were on track. As a result, neither driver was able to match his best time from the morning sessions in qualifying, Bruni and Baumgartner eventually setting the 18th and 19th fastest times respectively.

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 14.010 secs Position: 18th

"This morning, in the first practice session, we got a good balance in the car, but then in the final session, the car developed a lot of oversteer, possibly because the track temperature went up quite a bit, affecting the grip. In my qualifying run, the first sector was not bad, but then I struggled with traction on the infield section. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow, as we are reasonably close to our nearest rivals in terms of lap times. It should be interesting."

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 14.812 secs Position: 19th

"My best time this morning was good, and it's just a shame I couldn't repeat it this afternoon in qualifying. I made a couple of mistakes on the final run and the car also developed quite a bit of oversteer. I'd like to thank all the guys, who have put in a lot of effort this weekend. I think it's going to be a difficult race tomorrow, but I'll try to reward them with a good result."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Whilst we are not happy to be starting P18 and P19 in tomorrow's United States Grand Prix, overall, our performance today is as good as could be expected and our times respectable given the current circumstances. We now look forward to tomorrow's race, where our goal will clearly be to get two cars to the finish."

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2004.06.18.

SETTLING IN AT INDY

INDIANAPOLIS, USA, June 18, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth today commenced preparations for the United States Grand Prix - the second half of a North American Formula One double-header that saw the World Championship teams in Montréal last weekend for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Competitors face a very different set of technical challenges at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course compared with the Canadian circuit, however, as it is necessary to find a chassis set-up that works both on the flat-out Speedway section of the track and on the tight "infield". As is the normal Friday procedure on race weekends, Minardi drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni , plus official tester, Bas Leinders, spent today's two one-hour practice sessions working on chassis set-up and tyre evaluation, concentrating particularly on finding a consistent chassis balance over longer runs. Bruni lost some time in the opening session after his car spun harmlessly and stopped on the circuit, and later was unable to make his final run of the day as the result of a hydraulic problem. Nonetheless, the team collected a useful amount of data, and looks forward to making further progress tomorrow.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 13.384 secs Position: 18th

"We worked throughout the day on the balance, and finally got it on the last run, as the lap time reflects. I have never driven on this circuit before and at first it was difficult to find a rhythm, but then we made good progress this afternoon. I hope we can improve the race balance of the car still further tomorrow. We have done a good day's work and it is always nice to set a quick time at the end of the session."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 14.409 secs Position: 23rd

"I'm very happy today, both with the car and with my own performance. I had a very nice test programme today and was able to set some good times in both practice sessions. I would like to thank everyone on the team for a great job today."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 14.428 secs Position: 24th

"It's a little disappointing that we couldn't do a low-fuel run in the end, as we weren't able to take full advantage of the work we did today. Unfortunately, we had a technical problem, which meant we weren't able to go out for the last run, when we should have set our fastest lap. We succeeded in improving the balance of the car, though, and were close to Jordan on lap times, so we will aim to make more progress tomorrow."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"I was pleased with the performance of all three drivers, who did a solid job today, and was particularly impressed by Zsolt's fastest lap in his final run. This is traditionally a circuit where Minardi has gone well, so we look forward to tomorrow and what it will bring."

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2004.06.18.

GOLDENPALACE.COM BETS ON MINARDI

INDIANAPOLIS, USA, June 18, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth is pleased to announce that, following a successful introduction at last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, GoldenPalace.com has signed to become a commercial partner of the Faenza team for the remainder of the 2004 Formula One World Championship season.

The Minardi Cosworth entries of Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni , plus that of official test driver, Bas Leinders, will thus carry the eye-catching logo of the licensed, online casino. This will be prominently displayed on the nose, leading edge of the side pods and rear wing end plates of the cars.

This marks the first occasion a virtual casino has elected to employ the medium of Formula One to promote its services, although GoldenPalace.com is not new to the world of sports sponsorship, having previously been involved with North American Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, ARCA/REMAX Stock Car Racing, World Wrestling Entertainment, the Retired Boxers Foundation, and several high-profile boxers and celebrities, such as Bernard Hopkins, Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman, and more.

GoldenPalace.com CEO, Richard Rowe, is in no doubt as to the value of such campaigns. "Formula One has an enormous worldwide following and this is a major coup. We know, from previous experience with other sports sponsorships, that our involvement with Minardi for the rest of the 2004 season will increase our visibility in a huge way, and we are extremely proud and excited to be joining the team."

Commenting on the team's newest partner, Minardi Cosworth Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, says, "We are very pleased that GoldenPalace.com has decided to join Minardi as a commercial partner for the remainder of the current season following its initial experience with the team at last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix. It is once again gratifying for us that a company that has previous experience of sponsorship has decided that Minardi provides it with the promotional platform of choice for its highly popular services. We warmly welcome GoldenPalace.com to the Minardi family, and look forward to a mutually productive relationship."

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2004.06.13.

BAUMGARTNER FINISHES, BUT GEARBOX GREMLIN STOPS BRUNI

MONTREAL, CANADA, June 13, 2004 - Like a number of teams in today's Canadian Grand Prix, Minardi Cosworth experienced an action-packed race in front of a sell-out crowd of 112,000 enthusiastic Formula One fans. Zsolt Baumgartner, was forced to take evasive action on several occasions in the opening laps of the race to avoid incidents taking place near him, and survived a spin in his second stint caused by a collision with another competitor.

He pressed on, however, to take the chequered flag in a creditable 14th place. Team mate, Gianmaria Bruni started the event from the pit lane after switching from the Faenza squad's spare chassis, which he drove in Saturday's qualifying session, back to his race car. The latter had been repaired after a fuel pressure problem occurred in pre-qualifying. Successfully avoiding a first-corner accident as he exited the pits, Bruni then drove a strong race. Unfortunately, a gearbox problem after the first of his two scheduled pit stops led to the young Roman's retirement on lap 31.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 17.516 secs Position: 14th

"I was not so happy at the beginning of the race, as there were a lot of incidents on the track and, as a result, I wrecked my first set of tyres avoiding several of them. After my first pit stop, and on new tyres, the car just got better and better. Unfortunately, Klien misjudged an overtaking manoeuvre while I was in my second stint and hit the right front tyre of my car with his left rear, which caused me to spin. There was a lot of traffic around, and I lost time before I could safely rejoin the race. Despite all that, though, I am pleased to have finished another race and to have set some consistent lap times."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 18.025 secs Position: DNF

"It was a good race to begin with, and the car was quick in the first two stints. There was a problem at the first pit stop, which lost me some time, but once I was back out on the track again, I was able to re-pass Zsolt and pull away. Unfortunately, a problem developed with the gearbox, and there was no choice but to retire. It's bad luck, because the car had been handling really well up to that point. I want to say a special thank you to the guys, who did a great job this weekend, and we'll see what we can do at Indianapolis next weekend."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"The team was pleased to get Zsolt's car to the finish today, but saddened by the curtailment of Gimmi's race as the result of a gearbox problem. All in all, though, the performance was about the best that could be expected today."

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2004.06.12.

JUST REWARD LACKING

MONTREAL, CANADA, June 12, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth drivers Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner both showed good pace in the final two practice sessions for tomorrow's Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve near Montréal.

Unfortunately, neither driver was able to capitalise fully when it came to the afternoon qualifying session. A sudden drop in engine fuel pressure as he exited the pits for his pre-qualifying run meant Bruni was forced to switch to the team's spare car for qualifying. With only a short time to adapt the chassis for Bruni, however, it was not possible to make him completely comfortable, and after sampling the car on his warm-up lap, he elected to forfeit his qualifying run. Baumgartner enjoyed a much more straightforward day, and completed all his scheduled runs. The young Hungarian's aggressive qualifying lap would undoubtedly have dipped into the 1 min 16-second bracket if he not braked just a fraction too early for the final corner. Nonetheless, the team is pleased with the progress made so far this weekend and is looking forward to Sunday's race.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 17.064 secs Position: 18th

"Generally, it has been a productive day and I have to thank the guys, as they put in a great effort. There was a small problem with the engine, which meant they had to change it, and then we decided overnight to go in a different direction with our tyre choice, which required a lot of alterations to the car. We spent some time in the two sessions this morning finding a good chassis balance, and we then had to make further adjustments to compensate for the higher air and track temperatures this afternoon. I was fairly happy with my final qualifying run. It's just a pity I made a mistake under braking for the last corner, though, because otherwise I could have been in the 1 min 16s. It's a pity about Gimmi's problem in qualifying, but hopefully we can still have a good race tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: No time Position: 20th

"I set a good lap time this morning with lots of fuel on board, and was very pleased with that. Unfortunately, on my pre-qualifying out-lap, there was a fuel pressure drop as I left the pit lane and the car just stopped. The guys worked really hard to switch me to the spare car, but I just wasn't comfortable with the pedals when I went out on my qualifying lap. I therefore decided to cut the run short, as there was no point in continuing with a car I couldn't drive properly. I just hope luck is more on my side tomorrow."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It hasn't been the most productive of days. Sadly, Gimmi's car suffered a fuel pressure problem on the out lap, which meant he had to switch to the spare car for his qualifying run. This was not correctly set up for him, and as a result, he did not complete his flying lap. Zsolt went well in the two morning sessions today, and if not for a small mistake in the final sector of his qualifying lap, he might well have split the Jordans. Overall, I think we deserved a little better result considering our performance so far this weekend."

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2004.06.11.

SETTLING IN NICELY

MONTREAL, CANADA, June 11, 2004 - In near-ideal motor racing conditions, Minardi Cosworth enjoyed its best Friday practice session so far this season as preparations got under way today at Montréal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.

There was a slightly shaky start to proceedings, when what turned out to be a minor gearbox software problem caused the car of Minardi's official test driver, Bas Leinders, to roll to a halt on the first lap out of the pits. Unfortunately, it cost the Belgian valuable running time on a demanding circuit that neither he nor regular race drivers, Gianmaria Bruni or Zsolt Baumgartner, had experienced previously. Nonetheless, the team made a rapid recovery, and by the conclusion of the afternoon session, Bruni had set an excellent fastest lap of 1 min 16.235 secs, just over two seconds slower than the best Friday time. Team mate, Baumgartner, was not far behind, with a lap of 1 min 16.981 secs, while Leinders' time 1 min 17.697 secs after just 23 laps was also highly praiseworthy.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 16.981 secs Position: 22nd

"I'm happy that we're much closer to the big guys here. It's just a shame that I encountered some traffic on my last run this afternoon, as it prevented me from setting a faster time. I think we had a good day, though, as it was important to stay on the track and learn as much as possible about it. It's a fast circuit and we definitely found a lot of time as we got used to it. Hopefully, we can improve again tomorrow."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"I'm very pleased with today's outcome, especially as Gimmi's best lap time would have seen him in sixth position on the grid for last year's race. All three drivers did a great job, especially considering that none of them had seen this track before, except on television, and Bas suffered the added disadvantage of losing the entire morning session due to a car stoppage on his out lap. It was particularly pleasing to see all three drivers mixing it with the Jordans and Jaguars in what turned out to be Minardi's best Friday performance this season."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 16.235 secs Position: 17th

"We searched a bit to find a good chassis set-up and definitely went in the right direction on this. I'm happy with the work we did and am looking forward to tomorrow. I'd like to thank the guys for their efforts, and Bridgestone, for the tyres they provided us with today. I have to say, I think this is a very nice circuit. It's a little bit like Monza, with the chicanes and the late braking into the hairpins - it's a good challenge."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 17.697 secs Position: 23rd

"Unfortunately, I was not able to run this morning as a small software problem stopped my car on the circuit. It was easily repaired once the car was back in the garage, and I was then able to take part in the second session, which I was happy to complete without any problems. I got into a rhythm quite quickly once I got going and was still able to carry out some useful test work for the team. I like the track very much. It has its own special character, and it's always nice to experience something out of the ordinary. All things considered, I'm happy with our performance today."

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2004.06.08.

Nelson Mandela calls on F1 Teams to support South African F1x2 Grand Prix

Johannesburg, South Africa, June 7, 2004 - In a landmark statement, Nobel Prize winner, Nelson Mandela, is sending a request to Formula One drivers, past and present, to support the first Altech South African F1x2 Charity Grand Prix, from the 6-9 August, at the AA Kyalami International Raceway.

This will mark the first time that the Minardi F1x2 (two-seater) cars have been driven in a Grand Prix format outside of Europe.

Dr Mandela commented, "Not only will this event be a landmark for South Africa, which last heard the sound of Formula One engines 10 years ago, but also we will be able to support the children of my Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the Unite Against Hunger charity.

"Currently, these projects support the most needy of South Africa's children, and through the proceeds from the Grand Prix, we are set on doing so much more to alleviate poverty and hunger.

"I am calling on the Formula One heroes of the world, past and present, to take time out of their busy schedules to join us in South African for the South African Grand Prix." He added that he would be sending personal invitations to all Formula One teams and drivers to support the event.

The Altech South African F1x2 Grand Prix has been made possible through the kind co-operation of Minardi Cosworth Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, who possesses a unique fleet of eight two-seater Formula One cars, and has agreed to make them available in order for Kyalami to host the world's first two-seater Grand Prix.

"We are particularly proud to be able to bring the excitement of our two-seater Formula One cars to South Africa in August, for the Altech South African F1x2 Grand Prix, which has all the makings of truly remarkable event," says Paul Stoddart. "I'm sure it is going to be hugely successful, and I will be asking all of my colleagues in the Formula One Paddock to attend and lend their support to this most worthwhile of causes."

Media updates will be issued between now and August 6, when the Altech South African F1x2 Grand Prix weekend gets under way.

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2004.06.06.

RAPTUROUS RECEPTION FOR MINARDI F1x2 CARS AT KYALAMI

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, June 6, 2004 - Watched by a hugely enthusiastic crowd of 12,500 people at the AA Kyalami Grand Prix circuit, the Minardi team today introduced South African motor racing fans to the excitement of its unique two-seater Formula One programme.

In the course of an action-packed day, Minardi Cosworth drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner and Bas Leinders, and up-and-coming South African International F3000 Championship racer, Alan van der Merwe, took 20 breathless passengers for high-speed rides of the challenging 4.30-km track that was home to the South African Grand Prix until 1993.

Sunday's activities concluded with a dramatic, side-by-side, standing-start run involving both Minardi F1 two-seater chassis appearing at the Johannesburg circuit this weekend. The purpose of today's event was to publicise the Altech South African F1x2 Grand Prix, which will be held at Kyalami on Monday, August 9, and will feature the full Minardi F1x2 "fleet" of eight cars. Proceeds from what is certain to be a memorable weekend of motor racing and entertainment will directly benefit the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and Unite Against Hunger charities. All three drivers also took the opportunity on Friday to visit Soweto in order to see the work being done by these world-famous organisations.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER

"The whole day has been really well organised and was good fun. I think the drivers and passengers all enjoyed themselves, and I'm sure the spectators particularly enjoyed the start with both cars at the end of the afternoon. I'm sure the August event, though, will be even more exciting. All in all, it has been a great weekend."

BAS LEINDERS

"I'm very happy to have driven at Kyalami, and it has been a great first experience for me with the Minardi F1x2 car. Now, I'm really looking forward to the Altech South African F1x2 Grand Prix in August. I was also very pleased that we were able to visit Soweto and see at first-hand what the Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund and Unite Against Hunger programmes are doing there, and to be able to contribute in a small way to this incredibly worthwhile work."

ALAN VAN DER MERWE

"It has been an awesome experience. This kind of event really is a win-win situation, with the charities benefiting, the sponsors gaining exposure and the drivers all thoroughly enjoying it. I'm now really looking forward to coming back in August for the Altech South African F1x2 Grand Prix."

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2004.06.03.

Zsolt and the MINARDI F1x2 IN SOUTH AFRICA

LEDBURY, ENGLAND, June 4, 2004 - The Minardi F1x2 team will break new ground this coming weekend when its exciting two-seater Formula One cars appear for the first time in Africa.

The Ledbury, UK-based squad will be running a pair of chassis from its innovative, eight-car, F1x2 "fleet" at the AA Kyalami International Raceway circuit, near Johannesburg, South Africa, as a precursor to the Altech South African F1x2 Grand Prix, to be held at the famous track on Monday, August 9. The latter event is fully supported by Nelson Mandela, and will provide a memorable weekend of motorsport and entertainment, the proceeds from which will directly benefit the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and Unite Against Hunger charities.

The purpose of this weekend's programme is to provide passenger rides to a select number of VIP and media guests, both to publicise the August event and to introduce the two-seater Minardi F1 cars to a South African audience that has seen little Formula One-related motorsport since the country last staged a Grand Prix, at Kyalami, in 1993.

Acting as high-speed "chauffeurs" this weekend will be regular Minardi Cosworth Formula One driver, Zsolt Baumgartner, the Faenza-based team's official test and reserve driver, Bas Leinders, and up-and-coming South African racer, Alan van der Merwe, who is currently competing in the FIA F3000 International Championship, generally regarded as the final step for young drivers before embarking on a Formula One career.

"Minardi has been privileged to be able to introduce the excitement of its two-seater Formula One cars to enthusiastic audiences in a number of countries around the world over the last four years, including China, Malaysia, Australia, Hungary, Austria, Italy and the UK," comments Minardi Cosworth Team Principal, Paul Stoddart.

"We are particularly proud, however, to be able to bring them to South Africa for the first time this weekend in order officially to launch the Altech South African F1x2 Grand Prix, which has all the makings of truly remarkable event. I would like to thank our drivers, Zsolt, Bas and Alan, all of whom are willingly giving of their time at a very busy stage of the motor racing season in order to participate in this weekend's programme. I'm sure it is going to be a success and will undoubtedly whet the appetite of South African motor racing fans for the August event."

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2004.05.30.

HARD, BUT REWARDING DAY

NURBURGRING, GERMANY, May 30, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth driver, Gianmaria Bruni, celebrated his 23rd birthday in satisfying style today, finishing 14th in the Grand Prix of Europe and leading team mate, Zsolt Baumgartner, home to the chequered flag, the result providing the Faenza squad with a solid, two-car finish.

Zsolt did have the satisfaction, however, of setting the faster race lap. Both drivers adopted similar pit-stop strategies, each calling in three times for fuel and tyres in the course of the 60-lap race.

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 35.555 secs Position: 14th

"I'm satisfied with the result, as I had to try and maintain good lap times, but also conserve the rear tyres - if I pushed too hard I risked blistering them. In fact, I'm happy with the tyres Bridgestone has provided us with this weekend. If we had had a better balance in the car this afternoon, I think I could have made better use of the tyres and we might have had a stronger result. Even so, I am very pleased to have finished the race."

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 34.666 secs Position: 15th

"Generally, we had a good, solid race today. The first stint was difficult, because the car was really oversteering, but then we altered the differential and the tyre pressures at the first stop, and I also adjusted the brake balance. After that, the car just got better every lap and was really good in the last two stints. I could go quicker and quicker and was able to bring the gap down to Gimmi. The biggest problem for me this afternoon was actually the amount of time I lost with blue flags letting other drivers through. I'm very happy that we had a reliable car in the race and that I was able to take the chequered flag today. I'd also like to wish Gimmi a happy birthday - it was good to present him with his birthday cake."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It's always good to get two cars home. Both Gimmi and Zsolt did all that could be asked of them today, and overall, it has been a reasonable weekend for the Minardi team here at the Nurburgring."

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2004.05.29.

SOLID PERFORMANCE

NURBURGRING, GERMANY, May 29, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth kept yesterday's momentum rolling during the final day of preparations for Sunday's Grand Prix of Europe. Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni continued fine-tuning their cars for Saturday afternoon's official qualifying session and tomorrow's race, although the programme didn't go quite according to plan. Not entirely happy with the behaviour of his car yesterday, Bruni took over the team's spare chassis for the two 45-minute, Saturday morning practice sessions, as well as the pre-qualifying run. He then elected to switch back to his race car for qualifying. By comparison, Baumgartner had a straightforward day, and recorded a promising 17th fastest time during the morning sessions.

Bruni and Baumgartner then put in solid qualifying runs and, as a result, line up 17th and 18th respectively on the grid for tomorrow's seventh round of the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 34.398 secs Position: 18th

"Overall, I think it has been a good weekend so far. I was not particularly happy with the first sector on my qualifying run, but the remainder of the lap was not bad, and in general, I think we have made some useful progress over the last two days. I believe we have a good race strategy, so we will see what we can do tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 34.022 secs Position: 17th

"It has been a bit of a confusing day in that we started with the spare car, which felt quite different from my normal chassis, and then switched back to the race car. I especially want to thank the guys, who worked like crazy to get my race car ready in the final 15 minutes before the qualifying run. It's going to be a tough race tomorrow, but I'm going to push as hard as I can, and hope to finish with a good result."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It was a solid performance today - particularly in the morning sessions and pre-qualifying, our times were very respectable, given the circumstances. Clearly, the qualifying run with fuel shows we have a different strategy from that of the teams we've been much closer to this weekend. All in all, we're looking forward to a productive race tomorrow."

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2004.05.28.

MOVING FORWARD

NURBURGRING, GERMANY, May 28, 2004 - The Friday technical programme for this weekend's Grand Prix of Europe at the Nurburgring took the same basic form as usual for Minardi Cosworth: fine-tuning of the chassis, software assessment and evaluation of the available tyre choices.

Additionally, however, the Faenza squad is trying some new aerodynamic components in Germany this weekend, and race drivers Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni, as well as the team's official Test Driver, Bas Leinders, all provided useful feedback on the latest developments. As is normally the case, Leinders was running a slightly different programme from his team mates, but nonetheless, the best lap times recorded today reflect the fact that the team's aerodynamic programme is now beginning to produce positive results and technical progress is being made.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 32.986 secs Position: 22nd

"We had two positive sessions and found a good chassis balance, so I'm happy with the outcome today. I had a problem with two other cars in the second sector of what should have been my fastest lap this afternoon, but other than that, things went well and I hope we can work on improving further tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 32.643 secs Position: 21st

"It has been a positive day. We found a good balance on the tyre that we are likely to choose for qualifying and the race, and I'm also reasonably pleased with my lap time, particularly since it is my first time driving a Formula One car at the Nurburgring. I have to thank the engineers, who really helped me a lot today. I am definitely going to bed early tonight in an effort to get rid of the cold that I picked up after Monaco."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Best lap: 1 min 34.538 secs Position: 25th

"Our job today was to try some different set-ups in an effort to find additional chassis stability. Gimmi and Zsolt went in a slightly different direction, and it's clear from the lap times that they found a good solution. As a result, it has been a good day for the team."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"All three drivers performed well today and it's good to see the times reflecting their strong performances. It's also very pleasing that we're beginning to see the benefit of some of the new components developed from our wind tunnel programme as they start to come through the system. This is down to the hard work of the guys back at the factory, and I'd particularly like to thank them for their efforts. Hopefully, we can build on today and carry this performance through the weekend."

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2004.05.23.

SO NEAR, YET SO FAR

MONTE CARLO, MONACO, May 23, 2004 - For the first time this season, Minardi Cosworth was able to contemplate the prospect of scoring World Championship points in today's action-packed Monaco Grand Prix.

Drivers Zsolt and Gianmaria Bruni both encountered technical problems at the start of the race, but then avoided early race incidents and settled down to a solid race pace. Unfortunately, Bruni was forced to retire his car from the race on lap 17, with a gearbox problem. Baumgartner, however, drove a gritty race, reeling off the laps, avoiding the infamous Monaco barriers and picking up places as other drivers fell by the wayside. He took the chequered flag in ninth place, recording the team's best finish this season and missing out on a World Championship point by just one position. It also marked the young Hungarian driver's best Formula One result to date, his previous being 11th at the 2003 Italian Grand Prix.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 21.886 secs Position: 9th

"I made a very good start, but then had a gearbox problem just after I'd gone through the first corner. I reset the system with the steering wheel buttons and was able to get going again, but by then, I'd lost a lot of time. I was able to maintain a good pace, though, and after the first Safety Car incident, I was up with Gimmi. Unfortunately, the car developed a strong oversteer, and I wasn't able to push any harder. It was good, though, to be able to keep the car on track, avoid any mistakes and achieve a good result. It was a tough race physically, and I'm pleased to have finished, both for myself and for the team. It makes up a little for the problems we encountered here on Saturday."

GIANMARIA BRUNI

Position: DNF

"I had a problem leaving the grid on the first formation lap, but did manage to get away at the start. I then just tried to keep up a reasonable pace, which I was able to do initially, but then I lost first gear. It didn't cost me too much time, but then I started having difficulty downshifting into third and second gears, and I had no choice but to stop at the pits. The guys had a look, but unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done. It's bad luck and I'm obviously very disappointed, but that is sometimes how racing is."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Minardi knew today that if its cars finished this race, there was always going to be a chance of scoring points, and in the end, we were so, so near. After the incidents in the opening stages of the race, Zsolt was under instructions to drive a very conservative race and just bring the car home. With 37 laps to go and only 10 healthy cars running, we really felt a points finish was possible. Sadly, it was not to be, but Zsolt and the team did all that was asked of them today. Our sincere congratulations go to Jarno Trulli - another former Minardi driver - for his first-ever Formula One victory."

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2004.05.20.

PRODUCTIVE DAY BY THE HARBOUR

MONTE CARLO, MONACO, May 20, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth today launched into its preparations for Formula One's most glamorous event of the season - the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix - in very positive fashion. By the end of the second of the two official practice sessions, race drivers Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner had set the 21st and 22nd fastest laps, with test and reserve driver, Bas Leinders, in 23rd spot.

The team spent the opening day of the race weekend fine-tuning the handling of its Minardi PS04B chassis to deal with this uniquely demanding street circuit in the world's most famous Principality. The team made good technical progress, the only slight problem arising late in the first session, when Baumgartner's car made contact with the barriers at Turn 5. Fortunately, damage was limited primarily to the right rear wheel and tyre and the young Hungarian driver was soon back on track again. Preparations for the 62nd running of the Monaco Grand Prix continue on Saturday.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: 23rd Best lap: 1 min 18.829 secs

"I was pleased to get into a good rhythm pretty much straightaway. I have driven here in F3000, but this place is very different in an F1 car - the speed is just so much higher and the track is very narrow. I made a small mistake in the first session and touched the barrier with the right rear wheel of the car. Fortunately, there wasn't too much damage, and although we lost some time in the garage while repairs were made, by the end of the second session we had made up the time and finished everything we had planned. I didn't set the best time I could have today because it's difficult to get a clear lap around here with all the traffic, but that's just the way Monaco is."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: 22nd Best lap: 1 min 18.822 secs

"It was generally a good day for us and we improved steadily, which is what I wanted to do, as this is my first time here in a race car. It's a funny circuit, with the speed you do through the tunnel and the closeness of the walls and the barriers. I'm very happy with the work the mechanics and the engineers did today. I wasn't able to get a clear lap on my last run, which should have been my fastest, so I wasn't quite able to realise the full potential of the car, but we still did some solid work, which we can build on tomorrow."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Position: 24th Best lap: 1 min 20.370 secs

"Monaco is always a tricky place because the guardrail is very close, but happily, we had another day without any major problems testing a few things the team wanted to have a look at this weekend. We tried something a little different in the set-up this afternoon, and, as the time indicates, it didn't work here at Monaco. The data we gathered, however, will be of use later in the season. Special thanks should go to the guys for all their efforts today. The improvements that have been made here in the Monaco circuit are excellent, but it's still a difficult place to work."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"All three Minardi drivers put in a solid performance today, working through their full technical programme in preparation for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. To have finished up less than a second from Nick Heidfeld's Jordan is about as good as we can expect at the moment. All in all, it was a solid day's work by the whole team."

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2004.05.09.

EARLY SHOWER

BARCELONA, SPAIN, May 9, 2004 - Today's Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya turned out to be a disappointing race for Minardi Cosworth, the Faenza squad failing to get either of its cars to the chequered flag. After experiencing a technical problem at the start, which saw his car held up leaving the grid, Zsolt Baumgartner spun off the track at turn nine on race lap 19, while allowing a faster car to pass.

Team mate, Gianmaria Bruni, found himself grappling with braking difficulties, his car spinning into retirement on race lap 34, seven laps after the second of his three scheduled pit stops.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 22.532 secs Position: DNF

"It seems like all the bad things that could happen in a race all happened to me today! I didn't get away properly at the start and lost a couple of seconds, but then the car was running well after that. The problem came when I was trying to obey the waved blue flags and let one of the Saubers through. I stayed to the dirty side of the track going into turn nine, and when I tried to turn in, the tyres wouldn't grip and I spun into the gravel. It was a difficult place to try to let someone through, and I paid the price. I particularly want to thank the team for all the effort they put in, and I'm just sorry I wasn't able to get to the finish for them."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 22.323 secs Position: DNF

"Pretty much from the beginning of the race I was having a problem with brake locking. I adjusted the balance to try to improve things, but several times I had difficulty braking for turn eight. On that last lap, the front wheels locked again, the back of the car got loose as a result, and I spun. It's disappointing, not only for me, but also for the guys, who worked really hard all weekend. We'll just have to see if we can do better in Monaco."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Sadly, Barcelona has again proven to be an unlucky track for Minardi. For our cars to be the first two retirements from today's race is hardly due reward for all the work the boys put in this weekend, but that is sometimes the difficult side of motor racing. We'll now focus on the Monaco Grand Prix, which poses its own unique set of challenges."

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2004.05.08.

FULL MARKS FOR EFFORT

BARCELONA, SPAIN, May 8, 2004 - After two smooth and untroubled official practice sessions on Friday, Minardi Cosworth experienced a problematic start to the second day of preparations for the Spanish Grand Prix when the car of Gianmaria Bruni suffered a loss of hydraulic pressure during the first morning session. Impressive work by the team's mechanics allowed Bruni to take to the track again with just under 10 minutes of the second session remaining, although it meant he was short of preparation time for qualifying. By comparison, Zsolt Baumgartner had a quieter time, working steadily on qualifying and race set-ups during the morning.

Both men drove strongly in qualifying, Bruni putting together a clean run that netted him the 18th fastest time of the afternoon, and Baumgartner, who was not entirely happy with the balance of his car, completing the afternoon in 20th.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 21.470 secs Position: 20th

"I think we had two reasonably good sessions this morning, although the cool temperature meant it was difficult to find a good balance for the chassis. Unfortunately, we continued to struggle with that in qualifying. I'm disappointed, because I think I could have done a better lap time this afternoon, but we'll work with what we've got and hope to have a strong race tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 19.817 secs Position: 18th

"It was a difficult morning, but the guys did a fantastic job to sort out the problem, and I'm pleased for them that we were able to set a decent time this afternoon. We made our tyre choice at the end of yesterday, but the problem was that without any chance to do any real running this morning, I had no idea how the tyres would feel at the limit on the track. Fortunately, my engineer came up with something and it worked well, so I am very happy. We are certainly in better shape here than we were at Imola, and I now hope for a good, clean race tomorrow with no mistakes."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Barcelona is a track where Minardi gives away a bit of time to those teams that are testing here almost continuously. It's therefore pleasing to see our times were quite respectable today, and although we still need to improve, I'm confident we'll have an interesting race tomorrow."

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2004.05.07.

QUIET PROGRESS

BARCELONA, SPAIN, May 7, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth arrived at the Circuit de Catalunya to commence preparations for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix with a useful Mugello test behind it. The one-day session last week enabled the Faenza squad to gain further data and a better understanding of the latest aerodynamic package fitted to the Minardi PS04B chassis.

Race drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, along with test driver, Bas Leinders, launched into a normal Friday programme in Spain, concentrating on chassis balance, software assessment and tyre evaluation. Despite an afternoon shower that dampened the circuit and resulted in a number of yellow-flag incidents, all aspects of today's technical programme were completed and Minardi technical staff pronounced themselves very satisfied with the reliability of the cars' systems.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: 23rd Best lap: 1 min 20.313 secs

"By the end of the day, I felt we hadn't done too badly at all. We need to do a little more work on the balance, and although we didn't quite achieve the lap time we wanted this afternoon, we know why that was. Generally, the car feels good, and I am confident that just by changing some small things tomorrow, we can make a further improvement."

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2004.04.29.

DIRECT CONNECTion

FAENZA, ITALY, April 29, 2004 - CONNECT Communication is a recently formed, Swiss-headquartered telecommunications service provider with clearly stated goals, and it has chosen commercial sponsorship of the Minardi F1 Team as its preferred marketing strategy to support a major move into international markets. As a result, the Minardi Cosworth entries of Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner will carry the CONNECT Communication logo for the remainder of the 2004 season.

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2004.04.25.

BAUMGARTNER'S BEST SO FAR

IMOLA, ITALY, April 25, 2004 - It was a race of contrasting fortunes for Minardi Cosworth drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner in today's San Marino Grand Prix. Both men started well and ran on the anticipated pace during the first of their four scheduled stints. Unfortunately, soon after his first stop, on lap 13, Bruni felt he was experiencing a problem with the brake balance of his car and came into the pits. As it was a clear safety-related issue, the car was withdrawn from the race, and the team is currently analysing the relevant data in an effort to discover the problem. By comparison, Baumgartner had a solid race, setting his quickest time on the final lap and finishing 15th - his best result so far this season.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 26.075 secs Position: 15th

"I'm happy to have finished the race and pleased that we had a reliable car today. There were no problems and no mistakes, and I now hope we can build on this and start to generate some momentum in the coming races. We need to work some more on our new aerodynamic package, but I think it is promising and will become better with a little more development time. I want to thank all the guys on the team, who did a fantastic job this weekend and got through a huge amount of work."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 26.857 secs Position: DNF

"It just wasn't our day. I felt a problem developing with the brake balance about seven laps after my first stop and came into the pits. Although the team couldn't find anything wrong, they decided to retire the car as a precaution. I'm disappointed, but now it is best just to focus on the next race, in Barcelona."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It's always sad not to get both cars home, but that said, Zsolt did a fantastic job and persevered to the end, setting his fastest time of the day on his final lap of the race. Clearly, we have a lot to learn from this weekend, and hopefully, we'll put in a stronger performance in Barcelona."

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2004.04.24.

NOT AS PLANNED

IMOLA, ITALY, April 24, 2004 - It was a case of maximum effort and minimum return for Minardi Cosworth at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari today. The team's preparations for tomorrow's San Marino Grand Prix continued to progress according to plan during the morning's two 45-minute practice sessions. Unfortunately, however, the second session ended on a low note when Zsolt Baumgartner lost his car over the curbs at Variante Alta on his final run of the morning and spun into the barriers.

The resulting damage meant the young Hungarian had to switch to the team's spare car for official qualifying, but further bad luck ensued when his car again spun at Variante Alta, and he failed to record a time. Despite not being completely happy with the handling balance of his car, team mate, Gianmaria Bruni, pushed hard on his flying lap and qualified 17th.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: No time Position: 18th

"It has been quite a busy time for the team after the spin I had this morning. I have to thank the guys for the tremendous job they did changing over the spare car, which was set for Gimmi, during the lunch break. It felt different from my race car in the pre-qualifying run, but I just had to push hard for a time on the second run. Unfortunately, I made a mistake at the Variante Alta, but sometimes that happens when you are trying really hard. I am pleased, however, by the fact my first sector time on that lap was not bad. The goal is to have a consistent race tomorrow, as we did in Bahrain, and we'll just see what we can do."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 26.899 secs Position: 17th

"Unfortunately, we just weren't able to find a good balance for the car today, and on my flying lap, exiting the last corner, I hit the curb so hard that it knocked the steering wheel out of my hands and I accidentally hit the button for the pit-lane speed limiter. As a result, I lost over half-a-second before I could fix the problem. We'll run the new aero package tomorrow because we want to get some miles on it and develop a better understanding of how it works. It will be a tough race, but we'll see what we can do."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Sadly, this has been our worst qualifying performance of the year and not one of which we are proud. Zsolt spun on his final run and Gimmi accidentally engaged the pit-lane speed limiter when exiting the last corner of the circuit on his flying lap. The result is that both Minardi entries failed to demonstrate their potential. This will make tomorrow's race difficult, but it's another day, and we look forward to completing one of our home races."

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2004.04.23.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

IMOLA, ITALY, April 23, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth today used the occasion of a "home" race weekend and the first European round of the 2004 Formula One World Championship season to assess a range of new components resulting from its recent wind tunnel programme. In addition to the normal Friday technical programme that generally focuses on chassis balance, software assessment and tyre evaluation, Gianmaria Bruni, Zsolt Baumgartner and Bas Leinders also sampled the revised aerodynamic package, all three drivers reporting that it shows considerable promise.

As usual, the team will now study the data collected during today's two practice sessions and work on making further improvements overnight, aiming particularly at optimising chassis performance over the curbs, which are a major feature of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: 22nd Best lap: 1 min 25.653 secs

"We have done well in general terms today, but I was not so happy that I was stuck in traffic on what should have been my fastest lap this afternoon. If not for that, we would have been half-a-second quicker. We had new parts from the team's wind tunnel programme to try today and it's clear everyone on the team is pushing really hard at the moment. I am very happy about that, and I want to thank the guys for all their hard work. Hopefully, we will make more progress tomorrow."

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: 23rd Best lap: 1 min 25.760 secs

"I was struggling a bit this morning, but the situation improved in the second session. The guys have done an amazing job to turn the results of our recent wind tunnel programme into new parts so quickly. Some pieces were still being manufactured at the factory this morning and were then brought to the circuit during the lunch break and fitted to the car. The whole aero package has been really well done, and now we just need to work on finding a good chassis balance for this track. Even though we are not quite there yet, I'm happy that I finished with a time very close to Gimmi's this afternoon. We'll definitely make more progress tomorrow.

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Position: 24th Best lap: 1 min 27.025 secs

"Personally, I'm very happy with the developments on the car in the last two weeks. We had a lot of new parts to test today and I think it is clear we are making progress. The team seems very motivated to catch its nearest rivals and that is making for a good atmosphere. We will now put together all the information we have learned from running the three cars today and aim to make further progress tomorrow."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Today saw all three Minardi drivers complete their full quota of laps, and as this weekend marks the start of the European F1 season as well as a 'home' race for Minardi, we are very pleased by some encouraging progress, particularly with our new aero package, which we are trying for the first time at this event. All three drivers were running slightly different programmes today, but overall, we're encouraged for Saturday's all-important qualifying session. It was also interesting to see today that one of the front-running teams has adopted vertical slotted rear wing end plates - an aero innovation that Minardi introduced at the beginning of this season."

Chassis allocation - 2004 San Marino GP

Bruni (No 20) PS04B/02
Baumgartner (No 21) PS04B/01
Spare car (Bruni) PS04B/04 (driven by Bas Leinders in Official Practice sessions)

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2004.04.23.

SENNA REMEMBERED

IMOLA, ITALY, April 23, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth and title sponsor CEO, Ruud Wildschut, have chosen to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Ayrton Senna with their own unique tribute to one of motor racing's greatest stars.

The single word "Saudade" will appear on the sidepods of the Minardi Cosworths throughout this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix. The Brazilian-Portuguese word, which conveys deep emotion, does not translate easily, but effectively means "missing you". It was introduced to a worldwide audience in the wake of Senna's death as the title of a song created by British musician, Chris Rea, as a very personal tribute.

"During that terrible week, I happened to see a Brazilian holding a cloth with the word 'saudade' written on it,'" explains Rea, who like many, was a huge fan of Senna. "I couldn't find out what it meant. People told me there was no translation in English. Surprisingly, a British newspaper did an article on this very word, which explained that it vaguely meant a dignified sadness multiplied by a million - tears that smile. The BBC asked for some music for Ayrton's tribute, and the song came from that. It proves there is such a thing as the Blues outside of Mississippi."

The graphics on the Minardi sidepods will also incorporate the yellow, green and blue Brazilian flag, the colours of which featured on Senna's instantly recognizable helmet throughout his racing career, and a website address, www.senna.tv. Fans of the legendary three-time World Champion can log on to this site to register their thoughts and remembrances of him, or simply read what others have said. The messages will eventually be bound into a book and passed on to Senna's sister, Viviane, at this year's Brazilian Grand Prix.

The website also provides details of a special DVD, produced to mark Senna's death during the ill-starred 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. The majority of the proceeds from this will benefit the Ayrton Senna Foundation, an organisation set up by Senna prior to his death to assist children in Brazil through access to sports and education.

Speaking about the mark of remembrance being carried on the Minardi entries in Imola this weekend, Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, comments, "Sadly, the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger changed the face of Formula One forever, and although it remains one of the most tragic events in the sport's history, much of today's enormously improved safety provisions have come about as a result of what happened on that fateful Sunday 10 years ago."

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2004.04.04.

A TOUGH DAY IN THE DESERT

MANAMA, KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN, April 4, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, had an eventful start to the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix, the cars of both drivers experiencing electronics difficulties on the way to the grid. Baumgartner was able to rectify the problem by resetting the cockpit controls, but Bruni was less fortunate, his car having to be pushed from the grid and started in the pits. He joined the race two laps down, and despite pressing on in determined fashion, his best efforts were hampered by a lack of straight-line speed. A revised pit-stop strategy that took into account the pit-lane start saw Bruni stop twice for fuel and tyres on the way to a 17th-place finish. By comparison, Baumgartner's race settled down after the initial problem with his car was solved, and he was able to run at a competitive and consistent pace. All three of his scheduled stops for fuel and tyres went to plan, but unfortunately, his afternoon's efforts came to a premature end on lap 46, when his car stopped on the circuit with a suspected engine problem.

Both Minardi Cosworth drivers, however, could take a degree of satisfaction from their doggedly persistent performances in today's race.

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 35.130 secs Position: 17th

"The mechanics did a fantastic job today, and despite the fact my car wouldn't leave the grid, they got me going in the pits. During the race, I struggled with the car, which was good in the corners but felt like it was down on power on the straights. That prevented me from being able to race as well as I know I could have. Anyway, we'll work on our problems, and aim to have a better race at Imola."

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 34.555 secs Position: DNF

"Straightaway, I was struggling with an electronic problem, like Gimmi, but I was able to reset the software from the cockpit and fix the problem. I think my pace was good during the race - my fastest lap was the same as Gimmi's qualifying time and I was able to set times not too far off the Jordans - which made up for the problems I had in qualifying yesterday. I'm upset not to have finished the last 10 laps, but sometimes races are like that. I'd like to thank everyone on the team, who gave maximum effort today, and I hope, both for them and for me, that I can get a better result at the next race."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"After a grid incident that saw Gimmi unable to leave on the formation lap, both drivers did all they could during what was a very difficult race. Sadly, Zsolt wasn't able to take the chequered flag, but both he and Gimmi produced encouraging lap times given their individual circumstances in the race. We now look forward to one of our 'home' races, at Imola, in three weeks time."

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2004.04.04.

RACE REACTIONS - BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX

Zsolt Baumgartner:

"Straightaway, I was struggling with an electronic problem, like 'Gimmi', but I was able to reset the software from the cockpit and fix the problem."

"I think my pace was good during the race - my fastest lap was the same as 'Gimmi's qualifying time and I was able to set times not too far off the Jordans - which made up for the problems I had in qualifying yesterday."

"I'm upset not to have finished the last ten laps, but sometimes races are like that. I'd like to thank everyone on the team, who gave maximum effort today, and I hope, both for them and for me, that I can get a better result at the next race."

Paul Stoddart [Team principal - European Minardi Cosworth]:

"After a grid incident that saw 'Gimmi' unable to leave on the formation lap, both drivers did all they could during what was a very difficult race. Sadly, Zsolt wasn't able to take the chequered flag, but both he and 'Gimmi' produced encouraging lap times given their individual circumstances in the race. We now look forward to one of our 'home' races, at Imola, in three weeks time."

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2004.04.04.

BAUMGARTNER BACKS UP

Minardi's Zsolt Baumgartner will join Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen at the back of the grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Italian team having opted to change the Hungarian's engine ahead of the race.

Baumgartner qualified slowest of all on Saturday, although he was elevated to 18th place after both Raikkonen and Heidfeld were docked ten places owing to engine changes earlier in the weekend. His own penalty, therefore, made little difference to the F1 rookie's position. Contrary to initial reports following qualifying, Heidfeld lines up ahead of his former Sauber team-mate, now in 18th place.

Although he will line up on the grid ahead of the parade lap, Raikkonen is expected to take the 'green light' from the pit-lane, allowing McLaren to top up his fuel in order to give the Finn the best chance of achieving what would be his first points of the season.

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2004.04.03.

DIFFERING FORTUNES

MANAMA, KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN, April 3, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth drivers, Zsolt Baumgartner and Gianmaria Bruni experienced differing fortunes during the final day of preparations for tomorrow's Bahrain Grand Prix, a situation that reflected in their respective afternoon qualifying performances. The drivers spent the morning practice sessions working with the team's technical staff to finalise the race specification for their Minardi PS04B chassis and to decide on a suitable qualifying trim for the changeable track conditions at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Unfortunately, however, Baumgartner missed 15 minutes of the final practice session after spinning into the gravel at Turn 7, and critically, lost two new-tyre runs as a result. Despite the difference in qualifying times, both Minardi drivers are now looking forward to participating in a significant chapter of Formula One history tomorrow, when they take their places on the grid for the start of the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 35.787 secs Position: 19th

"I struggled a bit in qualifying, mainly, I think, because I missed the chance to try the last two sets of new tyres in the final morning session as a result of the spin I had. Maybe I was then a little too cautious in my qualifying runs as, like yesterday, the track changed in grip quite a lot between the morning and afternoon sessions and I didn't really get a good feel for the tyres. It was not a good qualifying performance, but the only thing to do now is to put it behind me and focus on making a good start and having a strong race tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 34.584 secs Position: 18th

"We did some excellent work this morning. The mechanics and the engineers did a great job, because we changed the car a lot to arrive at a good set-up. I had a good first qualifying lap this afternoon, and an even better second one, so I am pleased for myself and for all the guys, who put in a big effort today. I think for the package we have, we achieved quite a good lap."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"The morning sessions saw both drivers complete the majority of their technical programmes, albeit Zsolt's final run was curtailed by a small excursion into the gravel. Both drivers gave their all in qualifying, however, and despite finishing P18 and P19, we look forward to a productive race tomorrow at this magnificent facility."

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2004.04.02.

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH BAHRAIN

MANAMA, KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN, April 2, 2004 - The opening day of preparations for this weekend's inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix turned out to be a distinctly positive one for Minardi Cosworth drivers, Zsolt and Gianmaria Bruni, as well as for the Faenza squad's test and reserve driver, Bas Leinders.

Despite a predictably dusty surface, which adversely affected grip levels in the opening morning practice session, the track improved markedly during the afternoon. Unfortunately, yellow-flag incidents and "traffic" prevented Bruni and Leinders from extracting the most from their cars on what should have been their quickest laps. Nonetheless, by the end of Friday's second one-hour session, all three men felt they had achieved a good handling balance for their cars around the demanding 5.417-km Bahrain International Circuit. Ultimately, though, the efforts of all the Formula One teams present here today were relegated to the shade by the grandeur and sheer magnitude of Formula One's new "home" in the Middle East.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: 20th Best lap: 1 min 34.054 secs

"The track was very slippery initially and that was why we were struggling for traction - but then, it was the same for everybody. We were able to find a good balance as the day went on, though, and we ended up with a reasonable time. To be in front of one or two other cars is definitely satisfying. We spent quite a bit of time altering the car during the two sessions, as the track was changing all the time. We improved steadily, though, and hopefully, that will continue tomorrow. All told, we have had a positive day."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: 22nd Best lap: 1 min 34.791 secs

"We found a good chassis balance today, and although I wasn't able to set my best possible time on soft tyres as the result of traffic problems in the second session, I think we should be fine for tomorrow. The track itself is very good, and despite the surface being dirty earlier, it got better as the day wore on. I like the layout very much and look forward to a good performance tomorrow."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Position: 23rd Best lap: 1 min 36.248 secs

"I'm very happy with my second weekend as Minardi's Test and Reserve Driver. We completed our technical programme today, and speaking personally, I feel we have improved quite a bit between the last race weekend, in Malaysia, and this event. Certainly, I feel I know the car a lot better. It was also good, in similar conditions, to set a fastest lap today that was not too far away from the two race drivers. I'm happy with the effort from the team, and I have a very good feeling for the rest of the season."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"We're very pleased with our first day's work on this magnificent new track. The facilities in Bahrain really have set a new standard to which other F1 facilities will have to aspire. All three Minardi drivers put in an excellent performance today. I'm particularly pleased with Zsolt's last run, but feel for Gimmi and Bas, both of whom had their potentially quickest laps adversely affected by traffic and incidents. The drivers all completed their technical programmes, and we now look forward to an exciting weekend here in Bahrain."

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2004.04.02.

ARAB SPONSOR DEBUTS WITH MINARDI IN BAHRAIN

MANAMA, KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN - Minardi Cosworth is today pleased to announce that its cars will carry the colours of a brand-new sponsor this weekend at the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix. The logo of Capital Union E.C.C. will appear on the sidepods of the Minardi Cosworth PS04Bs of Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, as well as that of test and reserve driver, Bas Leinders, who will participate in Friday's official practice sessions.

Capital Union E.C.C. is an investment banking services provider offering high-quality, creative investment solutions to institutions and high net-worth individuals in the Middle East, and recently became the official partner and exclusive banking company of the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). Capital Union's sponsorship arrangement with Minardi this weekend forms part of its commercial partnership with BIC.

Significantly, this marks Capital Union's initial foray into motor racing sponsorship. Equally importantly, it is also the first occasion on which a Bahraini corporate has chosen to be associated with the Minardi Formula One team.

"It is fitting that one of the Middle East's leading investment banks should choose the occasion of the inaugural round of the Formula One World Championship to be held in the region to launch this significant marketing initiative," says Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "Minardi is both proud and honoured to carry the logo of Capital Union, and we look forward to welcoming their guests to this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix in order to introduce them to the excitement of one of the world's most challenging sports."

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2004.03.21.

GRITTY PERFORMANCE NETS TWO-CAR FINISH - ZSOLT 16th

Minardi Cosworth had the satisfaction of seeing both its drivers finish today's Malaysian Grand Prix, an event that lived up to its reputation as one of the most gruelling on the Formula One calendar, with track temperatures well in excess of 40 deg C, and humidity to match. To the outside observer, Zsolt and Gianmaria Bruni looked to have relatively uneventful races at the challenging Sepang International Circuit, both men making good starts, having trouble-free pit stops and benefiting when other drivers encountered problems.

What was not so obvious, was that Zsolt was struggling with a chassis imbalance for much of the race, while a problem with the steering system meant Bruni had to drive the last 30 laps without the benefit of power assistance. Nonetheless, gritty performances from the drivers, commendable engine reliability, and excellent tyre performance ensured that both cars took the chequered flag in Malaysia. Minardi Cosworth now looks forward to the first-ever Grand Prix of Bahrain, in two weeks' time.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 40.123 secs Position: 16th

"It was a tough race. I was struggling for much of the time with a chassis imbalance - the front end was quite good, but the rear was unstable, with too much oversteer. I got in front of Gimmi at the start, but then made a small mistake and he got me back. One of the most difficult things this afternoon was letting people pass while still trying to keep racing. This was definitely one of the toughest events I've ever done, and I'm very pleased to have finished."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 39.911 secs Position: 14th

"It was a tough race, particularly as I had to drive the last 30 laps without power steering. Overall, the car was consistent and the balance was good for what we have. This was my first 'full-distance' Grand Prix finish and I particularly want to thank the guys for the fantastic job they did today, and all weekend. We did the best we could today with the package we have and now I hope we can go forward. I am very happy."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"Fourteenth and sixteenth positions probably don't do justice to gutsy efforts from both our drivers today. With the reliability enjoyed by most competitors, it was the best we could do, but having said that, it's always good to get both cars home. My thanks go to the whole team, and to our partner, Bridgestone, who provided us with fantastic tyres all weekend. We now look forward to the next Grand Prix, in Bahrain, which should be equally hot."

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2004.03.21.

THE RIGHT CHEMISTRY: ALLEGRINI AND MINARDI

Minardi Cosworth is pleased to announce that one of its most loyal sponsors, Allegrini, has not only re-signed as a commercial partner to the Faenza team for a sixth season, but also increased its financial support.

As a result, the logo of the Bergamo-headquartered company, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of professional detergents and car-care products, will be displayed prominently on the upper surface of the nose of this year's Minardi PS04B.

"We are delighted that Allegrini has chosen to renew its association with us for the 2004 season," comments Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "On the one hand, it is a tribute to the company's loyalty to Minardi, but on the other, it demonstrates that the team is able to deliver a package that consistently meets Allegrini's specific marketing and promotional requirements. We are proud to carry Allegrini's colours for a sixth successive season and look forward to another productive year working with this valued commercial partner."

Dr. Maurizio Allegrini, CEO of Allegrini S.p.A., comments, "It's a great pleasure for us to be back on track again at the side of the Minardi team in its 2004 Formula One challenge. Being one of the team's official sponsors, we are proud to renew our excellent and solid alliance with the Faenza squad this year. Through our increased involvement in Formula One, we wish to demonstrate that our company shares the same passion for the thrills and struggles of the F1 World Championship as Minardi."

Allegrini was established in 1945, and today its products are established quality benchmarks in the detergents and hygiene chemicals sector. Its philosophy of serving solely the professional market has allowed it to develop a complete range of products and services for the automotive sector, as well as for other specialist areas, including industry, hotels, health, catering, food supply and "zootechnics".

Since the early 1960s, the company has pursued a policy centered on respect for the environment by investing in producing and commercializing natural products and containers that have a low environmental impact.

Following the completion of an ecological research project to reduce the packaging used in chemical products, Allegrini received an important award in 2001, from Legambiente, an Italian environmental association. The next goal towards which the company is busily working is ISO 14000 certification, which has an important global ecological perspective: "chemicals for the environment" is, and will always remain, the Allegrini philosophy.

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2004.03.20.

SATISFACTION AT SEPANG - Zsolt is 17th

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, March 20, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth personnel carried on with their preparations for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix in the same vein as yesterday, working steadily through a technical programme aimed at finalising details for this afternoon's two qualifying sessions and setting the final specification for the Minardi PS04B chassis to be used in tomorrow's race. Ultimately, qualifying produced a positive result for the Faenza team, Gianmaria Bruni recording the 16th fastest time of the afternoon, while Zsolt was 17th.

With the distinct possibility of rain in the vicinity of the Sepang International Circuit tomorrow afternoon holding out the prospect of an unexpected result, the Faenza squad feels it has every reason to be cautiously optimistic going into Sunday's race.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 39.272 secs Position: 17th

"I'm not too happy with this afternoon's result, as we did a faster lap this morning. I made a mistake in the third sector on what should have been my fastest lap and lost quite a bit of time as a result. I really thought we could have done better. It's good that we're starting in front of three other drivers tomorrow, though, and my hope now is for a reliable car and a positive race result."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 38.577 secs Position: 16th

"It was good, as we matched our best lap time this morning in qualifying. Personally, I was very pleased to finish my first Formula One qualifying session after the problem we had in Melbourne, and I will admit I was just a little bit nervous before qualifying started. On my second qualifying run, I had good times in the first two sectors, but then made a mistake in the last sector and missed an apex, which probably cost me two-tenths of a second. Everyone on the team did a really good job today, and although I'm sure it will be a tough race, we will try our best."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"All things said, I think we saw a good performance today from both drivers. We've been there or thereabouts all weekend when it comes to splitting the Jordans, and in reality, although we also have a BAR and a Renault starting behind us tomorrow, it's clear who we're racing. Both Zsolt and Gimmi have given 100 per cent this weekend, and we feel we're in good shape for tomorrow's race."

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2004.03.19.

ZSOLT ON TRACK IN MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, March 19, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth enjoyed a very positive start to the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend, running three chassis in today's two one-hour official practice sessions. The Faenza team's race drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, were joined for the first time by official test and reserve driver, Bas Leinders, the Belgian having completed the necessary Formula One testing distance required to qualify for his Superlicence this past week.

Team personnel spent their time today adjusting the Minardi PS04B chassis for the demands of the spectacular Sepang International Circuit and were pleased at the end of the afternoon session with the promising lap times posted by the drivers. With the exception of a hydraulic leak on Bruni's car in the first session, Friday's technical programme ran smoothly and the team looks forward to making further useful progress tomorrow.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Position: 22 Best lap: 1 min 38.588 secs

"I was reasonably happy with my time at the end of that last session. I was also pleased that I didn't make any serious mistakes and there were no technical problems, which meant we were able to run through our full programme for today. I learned the circuit quickly, and in the course of the sessions, we were able to find a good tyre compound, although we still need to get just a little better balance between the front and rear of the car. We'll work on that for the race. The latest tyres from Bridgestone are very good, and I hope we will have a strong qualifying session tomorrow."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Position: 21 Best lap: 1 min 37.818 secs

"It has been a good day, and even though we had a small technical problem this morning, it was solved quickly. I'm happy with the work we did today, and also with my lap times, which were reasonably consistent. I made a few little mistakes on my quickest lap and I know for sure we can improve on that time tomorrow."

BAS LEINDERS, Test Driver Position: 25 Best lap: 1 min 41.485 secs

"My first day of testing with the team has been a very positive experience. I'm very satisfied with the way things went, especially since I had to learn everything today - the track, the car, the tyres. I started off gradually and just worked on picking up a bit more time each lap. It was also good to be able to get to work quickly and start assisting the team to develop the car. We tried some new parts, which seemed to provide an improvement, and these should eventually find their way on to the race cars. I'm happy to have been able to help with this work, and I want to thank the team for making me feel very welcome today and helping me to settle in quickly."

JOHN WALTON, Sporting Director, Minardi Cosworth

"We're pleased with the outcome of today's practice sessions, and other than the problem with Gimmi's car, things have gone very smoothly. It's also worth noting the latest Bridgestone tyres earned excellent reviews from the drivers. The team would like to thank Bas for a mature job today. He played himself in steadily, produced consistent lap times and provided useful feedback to the engineers. I would also like to thank the boys, who put in an excellent effort in the high heat and humidity to repair Gimmi's car quickly and get him back out again before the first session was over. We're looking forward now to a good day tomorrow."

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2004.03.11.

LEINDERS GOES THE DISTANCE

FAENZA, ITALY, March 11, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth official Test and Reserve Driver, Bas Leinders, today successfully completed 315 kms in a Minardi Cosworth F1 car, under observation, at Ferrari's Fiorano test track. The 28-year-old Belgian has thus fulfilled the on-track requirement for his Superlicence, the application for which will now proceed through normal channels. The intention is that Leinders will take part in the Friday test sessions during the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend, and at all subsequent rounds of the 2004 Formula One World Championship, in a third Minardi Cosworth PS04B chassis, alongside regular race drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner.

"I'm very pleased to have completed today's test, although the weather conditions were not so good," commented Leinders at the conclusion of Thursday's test. "There were heavy snowfalls all around the region, while here in Fiorano we ran on a wet track all day because of the rain. A part from the polar temperatures, I had a trouble free session and I feel pretty satisfied. Now I'm looking forward to travelling to Malaysia where I will officially start my job as a test driver to assist the Minardi Cosworth team in the development of the PS04B Minardi chassis."

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2004.03.07.

PERSEVERANCE ABOVE ALL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, March 7, 2004 - Minardi Cosworth personnel had something of a torrid time during this year's Australian Grand Prix, as drivers Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner both encountered problems with their cars during the opening Formula One race of the 2004 season. The Hungarian driver first experienced difficulties on lap eight, but despite an early pit stop to allow the team to investigate the cause, he was forced to retire from the race on lap 16. The problem was eventually traced to a faulty electronic engine control unit. Bruni, making his Formula One debut in Melbourne, drove with maturity and assurance, passing four cars on the first lap and then settling down to a consistent race pace. Unfortunately, his car began to lose power on lap 20, after his first pit stop, and despite persevering with the problem through a second stop for fuel and tyres, he eventually had no choice but to call at the pits again on lap 37. Determined to help get Bruni to the finish of his first Grand Prix if at all possible, the team's technicians succeeded in curing the engine misfire, and the young Italian was able to rejoin the race for the final 10 laps. Having lost too many laps to be classified, Bruni's perseverance in finishing the race nonetheless benefits him in terms of his position in the qualifying order at the next World Championship round, in Malaysia, in two weeks' time.

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: 1 min 30.161 secs Position: Not classified

"It was good for the first 15 laps or so. I made a good start, passing Zsolt, Panis and Klien early on in the first lap, and then Pantano under braking near the end of the lap. At that point, the car and engine felt good, but then, around lap 20, the car started to misfire and lose power. I carried on through one more pit stop, but the problem was getting worse, so the team decided to bring the car in and try to repair it, which they did. I then went back out for the last 10 laps. It was a shame because, in the end, we found a good chassis balance for the race, but that is the luck of racing. Despite the problem, I really enjoyed overtaking people who had a lot more power available than me, and it also feels good to have finished my first Grand Prix. Now I'm looking forward to Malaysia."

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 30.621 secs Position: DNF

"Our basic strategy today was to keep the car on the track and avoid trouble. Things were going well until lap eight, when I started to have a problem with the engine, and after that, I was struggling. I came into the pits a lap early for my first stop to see if the guys could do anything. They tried to fix it, and I went back out, but then the engine stopped altogether on lap 16. It's sad, but up to that point, the car had been going well and my lap times had not been bad."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"It's sad that we were not able to get both cars home today, but I'm proud of the way the mechanics worked to get Gimmi back out in the race after he encountered a problem. It's fair to say that, because of the way qualifying is now conducted, getting cars to the finish will become a high priority this season, as the qualifying order is determined by your finishing position at the previous race. I'm extremely proud of both our drivers today, although sad that we were not able to deliver the reliability we have strived so hard to achieve."

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2004.03.06.

MIXED FEELINGS - Zsolt put in an excellent lap

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, March 6, 2004 - It was a case of mixed fortunes for Minardi Cosworth and drivers Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner during the second day of preparations for tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix. The team made further progress during Saturday morning's two 45-minute practice sessions, carrying on with the technical programme commenced yesterday, while also preparing the Minardi PS04B chassis for the afternoon's new-format, back-to-back qualifying sessions. Baumgartner was first out, recording a time of 1 min 32.606 secs, followed by Bruni, who produced a lap of 1 min 30.912 secs. After a break of only two minutes, while the cars were readied for the second session, Baumgartner put in an excellent lap of 1 min 30.681 secs, slicing nearly two seconds off his previous time. Bruni's afternoon unfortunately came to a premature end when a loss of hydraulic pressure meant he was unable to start his final run. Despite the disappointment, the team has been encouraged by the progress made this weekend and looks forward to the first Formula One race of the 2004 season.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Best lap: 1 min 30.681 secs Position: 17th

"I was struggling a bit during the first run, as I was trying to find the limit of the new tyres and also to feel the grip levels on the track. In the couple of minutes we had between sessions, we made a small adjustment to the car to reduce some oversteer we had in places. In the end, I think the result wasn't bad - we picked up two seconds from the first run and ended up only half-a-second behind the Jordan, which is good. Overall, I'm happy, and even more importantly, my engineer is happy. I'm sorry for Gimmi that he didn't get a time this afternoon, but I hope we can both have a good race tomorrow, and if we're lucky, score some points."

GIANMARIA BRUNI Best lap: No time Position: 18th

"It's obviously a bit disappointing for my first F1 qualifying to end this way. The first run was good, and I didn't push that hard, as I wanted to get the feel of the track for the second run. The second run would have been better, for sure, as everybody went faster, but when I tried to select first gear to leave the garage, there was nothing. It's a shame, because we had developed a pretty good chassis balance for the car today. Anyway, that's what happened, and now we'll just have to see what we can do tomorrow."

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal, Minardi Cosworth

"We have mixed feelings about back-to-back qualifying sessions, simply because the two minutes between them allows no room for error, driver debriefing, or for that matter, even for checking the car over. I wasn't a supporter of this new qualifying format, so it's ironic that Minardi was the first team caught out by it, when Gimmi's car, having just completed its first run this afternoon, was unable to leave the garage for the final run. He deserved better than that today. He has put in a fantastic effort thus far on his F1 debut and has really got to grips with the fantastic tyres being provided by our partner, Bridgestone. By comparison, Zsolt put a really good lap together when it mattered most. I think both drivers will have a lot to offer in the coming races. It's onwards and upwards now for tomorrow's home race and the debut of our 2004 driver line-up."

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2004.03.05.

FIRST DAY BACK AT SCHOOL

Zsolt was quicker than Bruni in practice one, and than faster then the two Jordan

The Formula One World Championship class of 2004 today convened in Melbourne for the first of 18 engagements that will take place around the world. Making their debuts for the newly launched Minardi Cosworth team were race drivers, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner. Unfortunately, a problem with fulfilling the specific requirements for his Superlicence meant the Faenza squad1s Test and Reserve driver, Bas Leinders, was unable to take part in today's two official practice sessions. The Belgian is now returning to Europe in order to deal with the matter. Friday's activities followed the normal format for a Grand Prix weekend, Minardi drivers and engineers working through a programme that included chassis set-up, tyre comparison and software assessment related to the demands of the challenging Albert Park circuit. The drivers adapted quickly to a track they had not seen before Monday of this week, and promisingly, both Minardi Cosworth PS04B chassis ran with complete reliability. As a result, the team made good technical progress, which it aims to build on tomorrow.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER 22 Fastest lap 1min 29.708secs

It was generally okay today, but we still have to find a better balance in the chassis. I wasn1t so happy with my last time because I couldn1t really use the new tyres to best advantage. Even so, I think we made good progress. We ran hard all day, and I am now getting used to the car and the circuit. Tomorrow, I hope we can improve and get closer to the others.

GIANMARIA BRUNI 21 Fastest lap 1min 28.991secs

It was a good day for me. We did both short and long runs, which helped me to learn the circuit and to find a reasonable balance for the chassis. I was pleased with my time on new tyres, but also happy with the longer run we did on worn tyres. I feel sure we1ll go better on Saturday as a result of the information we have picked up today.

PAUL STODDART, Team Principal

What a fantastic feeling to be at one of our team1s 'home1 races and, yet again, to be bringing new drivers into the sport. Gimmi Bruni, our test driver from 2003, today had his first taste of Formula One action at the magnificent Albert Park facility, while Zsolt Baumgartner, whom people will recall had those two memorable races with Jordan last year, commenced his first full F1 season. Minardi will this year be striving for reliability, and it's gratifying that both drivers today completed their full technical programmes in preparation for Saturday's qualifying sessions. Our Test and Reserve driver, Bas Leinders, is now on his way back to Europe in order to complete a full Grand Prix distance next week and enable his Superlicence to be processed. While we feel sorry he wasn1t able to take part today, Bas will open his 2004 season with Minardi Cosworth in two weeks at Sepang.

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2003.12.05.

ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER SIGNS FOR EUROPEAN MINARDI

European Minardi Cosworth has today officially signed Hungarian, Zsolt Baumgartner, as the second of its two race drivers for the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship season.

The promising 22-year-old from Budapest thus joins Italy's Gianmaria Bruni in the Faenza team's line-up, both men competing for the first time in a full World Championship season. Baumgartner contested two Formula One events in 2003 - the Hungarian and Italian GPs - when he was drafted in to replace the injured Ralph Firman at Jordan, but 2004 will mark the first time a Hungarian driver has raced full-time in the World Championship.

"For me, Christmas has definitely come early this year," comments Baumgartner. "The two races I did this past season made me more determined than ever that I wanted to be in Formula One. I have now realised that dream, although I don't think the reality of it has quite sunk in yet.

"There are many people who have helped me to get to this point in my racing career, but I particularly want to thank Thomas Frank, for his unstinting efforts on my behalf, and Paul Stoddart, for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do in Formula One. I just want to start working with the European Minardi team as soon as possible, so that I can be well prepared for the beginning of the season. It is a huge challenge, but I am really looking forward to it."

European Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, says, "We are very pleased that we have been able to finalise Zsolt's contract at this time. I believe he has considerable ability, and hopefully, the nurturing environment within Minardi, which has helped to launch the Formula One careers of so many talented young drivers in recent years, will also allow him to develop and hone his skills to the point where he firmly establishes his credentials at the very top level of motor racing."

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