Archive for category: Minardi Team

3 weeks have passed since the last GP in Canada, which marked the end of the second third of the F.1 Championship. Teams have had three weeks to develop upgrades, which can be fundamental to get the pole and seal a win.

Silverstone is a true circuit, besides being historical. What is more it’s located in a country where weather conditions have always played a key role. Traditionally Red Bull and Mercedes are the most favourite teams, even though Ferrari cannot treat itself to lose further ground. It was just on the British track that the Italian team sealed the win with Alonso. These three teams are certainly the most favourite to take a win at Silverstone, with Hamilton and Rosberg ready to bother Vettel and try to take the pole.

Talking about Lotus, the team has sold 35% of its shares to go ahead with the development work. The team will have to strategically defer the income throughout the racing season. No doubt they will be dreadful outsiders along with Force India and, under particular weather conditions, also Toro Rosso and McLaren will join the list of dreadful outsiders.

As far as the Williams is concerned, the British GP will be so important for the English team, which is going to celebrate its 600^th F.1 GP. It is an amazing goal achieved by the Frank Williams’ owned team, which is going through a difficult period because of a technical and managerial change inside it. I really trust in Frank’s job, as he has always been so skilled in reverse difficult situation to his own benefit and renew the team.

In the past few days the “Test-gate” verdict was returned. I do agree with that. They made one more test, so they’re not allowed to take part in the test day dedicated to rookie drivers. It’s a very important test session as, despite it is dedicated to young drivers, teams take advantage of those days to make some tests. I hope that this useless soap opera about the closure of F.1 test will soon come to an end.

Silverstone 1989 is maybe the best race ever run by the Minardi Team. We finished in the top 10 thanks to Martini and Sala 5^th and 6^th positions. In those years, points scoring and TV rights acquisition as a consequence of the first condition, were divided into 2 semesters. Silverstone were the last GP of the first semester, so we had to score at least 2 points. Thanks to Martini and Sala we were even able to score 3 points. We successfully reached a very important goal for our team.  I was talking about that with Pier Luigi just few days ago, I think it’s the best race ever run by the duo Minardi-Martini. Back to Bologna, despite the Ferrari had sealed the win with Mansell, there were many people from Faenza at the airport to celebrate our success. It was just on that occasion that started our collaboration with Mr.Fusaro, the President of Ferrari, who supplied our cars with the Ferrari engine in the 1991 F.1 season.

The 8^th edition of the Ducati World Week, the Ducati community international meeting, has started today at the “Marco Simoncelli” World Circuit in Misano. In the past season, more than 65.000 enthusiasts celebrated the passion, faith and love for the Ducati and the famous “Rossa from Borgo Panigale”.

The WDW first edition was held in 1998 and, it was on that occasion that Ducati twinned with the F.1 Minardi Team “I still remember with joy the affection of the Ducati enthusiasts, who took a liking to our team. It was a wonderful and unique union between two constructors, whose headquarters were only 50 km far from each other”, remembers Minardi “The event attracted many enthusiasts even at that time. The event was rich in stunning performances.”

Alongside the Minardi official driver Esteban Tuero, there were also those bikers who achieved great success alongside Ducati: Paolo Casol (n.1), Carl Fogarty (n.2), Pierfrancesco Chili (m.7), and Troy Corser (n.11).

In concomitance with the GP in Monaco, spotlights will be focused on one of the most expected motorsport events overseas and all over the world: the 97^th edition of the 500 Miles of Indianapolis.

Among the 33 drivers to line up in the 11 rows which compose the starting grid of the world’s most famous American race, three drivers who made their debut into F1 with the Minardi Team between 2003 and 2005 will also take part in the competition: Justin Wilson, Will Power and Katherine Legge. Drivers will be competing for almost 800 km.

The English driver Wilson competed in the F.1 Championship in 2003 behind the wheel of the PS03, while the Australian driver Will Power, who is in contention for the win and the then-25-year-old English driver Katherine Legge had an exciting experience in F.1 in 2004 and 2005 behind the wheel of the PS04 and PS05 on the tracks of Misano and Vallelunga.

“I’m so glad to see three Dallaras driven by three ex-Minardi Team drivers. The 500 Miles of Indianapolis is a historical race which made the history of car racing, especially overseas. The race has been hard-fought till the end over the last few years. It’s a very tactical race, where no mistakes have to be made and drivers have to make the most of the different safety cars.

Justin Wilson raced with us the entire 2003 F.1 racing season. His debut into F.1 was related to a very particular episode: supporters and friends invested on the Englishman, buying some shares from him. He drove a dignified season and I will always remember with pleasure his first test at Imola before leaving to Australia. Despite the car was making his debut in the competition and its tyres were borrowed from Ferrari, he managed to set a time which could be compared to the 6^th or 7^th time of official free practices. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to get the same performance throughout the season, even because of a troubled relationship with Bridgestone” says Gian Carlo Minardi.

“Katherine Legge was the fastest driver at that moment and the racing day was so interesting. He displayed good performances at Vallelunga, even if her standards didn’t fit F.1 so much. Although it was clear that her performance level was above the average, just as Will Power’s who tested the Minardi in 2004 on the track of Misano. Unfortunately the Australian driver didn’t have enough financial resources to run even the following year. This week end will be full of important motorsport events. After the GP in Monte Carlo we’ll enjoy the show of Indianapolis”, ends the manager from Faenza.

Gian Carlo Minardi painfully announces Giancarlo Martini’s death. The 66 year-old Giancarlo Martini was not only a great sportsman and businessman, but, above all, a very generous and kind friend of mine. We shared success and the passion for motor sport. A hearty hug to his wife Paola and his sons Jacopo, Benedetta and Donata.

Bye Giancarlo !!!!!!!!