A few weeks before i wrote about the Bono project. It was BAT (British American Tobacco)’s project to enter the Formula One. It was all about appearing on the grid in 1999 with their own team. As well, how to reach that goal. We all know that they eventually purchased Tyrrell Racing from Ken Tyrrell. Only using the Concorde agreements eventually to be allowed on the grid. Interestingly enough was
During the 2000 season the Minardi team came in serious financial troubles. It is really interesting to read all the articles and reports from those days about the team. There were many people, companies and investment groups that were interested to take over the Minardi team. Eventually Paul Stoddart would save the Minardi Team. However, there was also a South African guy named Riccardo Ferrari that was willing to save
History teaches us that there was no Dutch driver in 1999 on the grid. We had Jos Verstappen who was busy with the Honda project. Intentionally, he would become one of their drivers. Sadly, the program was cancelled. Tom Coronel was busy racing in Japan and would only test with the Arrows A20 in December 1999. However, another Dutch driver came “close” to appear on the grid in 1999. His
Many drivers tested for the Minardi team during the years. There are also a bunch of drivers that should test though did not test with the car for many reasons. As well, there are some unknowns of drivers if they did or did not test. Like Taki Inoue that seemed to have tested with the M195B.Several sources state that he did. Several sources say he didn't. What to think of
Scuderia Minardi and later Minardi F1 Team, the small Italian team we all love. They did what many team didn’t they survived 20 years in the Formula One on a tight budget. Their hay days were in the early 1990s when Gustav Brunner designed the M193 and Aldo Costa the M191. However, always with a tight budget it meant that many drivers were able to fulfil their dream to a
We write the 28th of October 1996 when Minardi arrives at Misano for a youngster test. Andrea Boldrini (1996 Italian F3 champion), João Barbosa (1996 runner-up champion Italian F3) and Esteban Tuero are the drivers that will take place behind the wheel of the Minardi M195B. Two years later Esteban Tuero would debut for Minardi with the M198. Only to retire just before he would test with the Minardi M01
2005 was the last year that privateers, the small teams, appeared on the grid. Minardi was the last team of an era were many tried their luck in the Formula One. Due the coming ban on turbo engines in 1989 and the restrictions, it was financially attractive for teams to try their luck. Most of them failed to even complete two season, some only did a few races before they
Recently i have been working on the Arrows A23 Saga special, unveiling the history of the Arrows A23. The special is far from completed yet I have to correct the Minardi PS04 part. It seems that the Minardi PS04 does not exist. Regarding the chassis plate inside the car it is the Minardi PS04A instead! So what’s this all about? I will give it a shot to explain! Over there
"Guys, I'm coming in, I'm having too much grip!" the remarkable words once spoken by Chanoch Nissany. A couple of you will remember it; some will recognize the name Nissany because Williams signed Roy as their test driver for 2020. I bet that many of them out there don’t even know who Chanoch even is, and how he is related to the Formula One. As usual, I was instant a
Minardi is probably one of the few teams in the rich history of the Formula One with plenty of rumoured drivers to drive for the team. Even more rumoured are the takeovers of the Minardi F1 Team. As to quote Paul Stoddart in 2005 “Over 40 groups were interested in taking over Minardi”. Let’s uncover history and see the almost driver moves for Minardi. 1984 – Minardi M184 Debut with
