Minardi to test at Vallelunga

European Minardi Cosworth today confirms that it will stage a three-day test at Vallelunga, on December 10, 11 and 12. The team will take two PS03 chassis to the Italian circuit, situated near Rome, with the dual aims of conducting driver evaluations and carrying out a detailed technical programme.

Among those scheduled to test for the Faenza squad are Argentina's José Maria Lopez, Heikki Kovalainen, from Finland, and Italy's Fabrizio Del Monte, although there is a possibility the trio may be joined by one or two other drivers.

In addition, one of European Minardi's regular 2003 drivers will shoulder a technical workload that includes tyre testing for Bridgestone, engine development work for Cosworth Racing, and the evaluation of possible new chassis components for the 2004 European Minardi.

"This looks set to be our busiest test of the year," comments European Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "It makes the best use of resources, however, to run what amounts to two separate, but parallel, programmes at Vallelunga, one focused on evaluating a number of young drivers whom we have been watching closely in recent months, and the other, on testing and assessing various components for the 2004 Minardi."

"The driver evaluation part of the exercise is simply a further example of the team's ongoing, and highly successful policy of seeking out the best young talents on the motor racing scene and introducing them to Formula One in a controlled and responsible way. It is obviously an approach that has paid off handsomely, as we saw at Monza this year, when eight of the 20 competitors on the starting grid for the Italian Grand Prix were either former or current Minardi drivers."

"As for the technical programme scheduled for Vallelunga, this is aimed at developing some of the key performance aspects of the 2004 European Minardi Cosworth. Work is progressing well on the new car, and this test should provide the team's engineers and designers with some valuable data that will assist them in developing a definitive specification for the PS04."

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