The
surroundings of the Hungaroring pit lane, in late
August 2003, may have been a little unusual, but
the method of celebration was traditional,
involving the pouring of champagne, the cutting
of an artistically decorated cake and the
organising of a team photograph. That was how
Minardi marked its 300th Grand Prix - another
milestone in the history of the Faenza-based
team, whose name has become synonymous during its
years in Formula One with tenacity and
opportunity.
Founded by Gian Carlo Minardi in 1979, with the
aim of competing in the European Formula Two
Championship, the Minardi Team made its Formula
One debut in 1985. After spending its first few
seasons in motorsports top category
acclimatising to the demands of Grand Prix
racing, the team took its first World
Championship point in 1988, with the 6th place of
Pierluigi Martini in Detroit (USA), then in 1989,
scoring in Great Britain (fifth and sixth
places), Portugal (fifth) and Australia (sixth).
Minardi's best season to date was 1991, when its
effective, Ferrari-powered chassis helped the
team to claim seventh place in the final
standings of the World Constructors'
Championship. In 1992, Minardi switched from
Ferrari power to the Lamborghini V12. A
sixth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix
provided the team with a point for its efforts
during the season.
The 1993 car was designed under the supervision
of experienced Austrian, Gustav Brunner, and the
chassis proved to be highly effective, fourth
place in South Africa, fifth in Monaco, and sixth
at Donington and Imola propelling Minardi to
eighth place in the Constructors' Championship.
During 1994 and 1995, Minardi entered into a
joint-venture with Scuderia Italia.
Unfortunately, a series of commercial
difficulties jeopardised the team's future and,
by the end of 1996, an alliance formed by
Gabriele Rumi and Flavio Briatore acquired a
majority stake in the company.
The 1998 season marked a turning point for
Minardi. Briatore severing his ties with the
company and his shareholding being acquired by
Gabriele Rumi. The successful Italian
businessman, who headed up the Fondmetal group of
companies, thus became the majority shareholder
in the team and embarked on an extensive
restructuring and upgrading programme. As a
result, Minardi was joined by new, highly skilled
personnel on the technical side, with Gustav
Brunner making a return to Faenza.
In 1999, the Minardi personnel line-up was
further strengthened by the arrival of Cesare
Fiorio as Team Manager and Sporting Director. As
in 1998, the Faenza-based team was ranked 10th in
the final World Championship standings, in this
case, courtesy of a very valuable point scored at
the European Grand Prix by F1 "rookie",
Marc Gené. One of the most satisfying aspects of
the 1999 season was the excellent reliability of
the M01, which helped its drivers to 10 top-10
finishes.
The 2000 campaign marked Minardi's 16th year in
Formula One, and although the team did not
succeed in scoring any points during the course
of the season, it retained its tenth-place
ranking in the World Championship, finishing
ahead of the notably better-funded Prost squad.
In 2005 the Minardi F1 Team was acquired by Red
Bull and now, in 2006, the new Minardi Team by GP
Racing is going to start a new adventure in
Euroseris 3000.
Minardi
Team
2006
2006 Model: Lola B02/50
Drivers: Rodriguez Caceres Tuka
Rocha Rigon Ippoliti Nunes
Engine: V8 Zytek
Technical Dir: Breda
Tires: Michelin
2005
2005 Model: PS05
Drivers: Albers Doornbos Toccacelo
Engine: Cosworth TJ2005 Series 10
Technical Dir: Tredozi
Tires: Bridgestone
2004
2004 Model: PS04B
Drivers: Bruni Baumgartner
Engine: Cosworth Racing CR-3L
Technical Dir: Tredozi
Tires: Bridgestone
2003
2003 Model: PS03
Drivers: Verstappen Wilson Kiesa
Engine: Cosworth Racing CR-3
Technical Dir: Tredozi
Tires: Bridgestone
2002
2002 Model: PS02
Drivers: Webber Yoong
Engine: Asiatech AT02
Technical Dir: Tredozi
Tires: Michelin
2001
2001 Model: PS01
Drivers: Alonso Marques Yoong
Engine: V10 European
Technical Dir: Tredozi
Tires: Michelin
2000
2000 Model: M02
Drivers: Gene Mazzacane
Engine: Fondmetal V10
Technical Dir: Brunner
Tires: Bridgestone
1999
1999 Model: M01
Drivers: Badoer Gene Sarazin
Engine: V10 Ford Zetec
Technical Dir: Brunner
Tires: Bridgestone
1998
1998 Model: M198
Drivers: Nakano Tuero
Engine: Ford Cosworth V10
Technical Dir: Tredozi
Tires: Bridgestone
1997
1997 Model: M197
Drivers: Katayama Trulli Marques
Engine: V8 Hart
Technical Dir: Tredozi Gennari
Tires: Bridgestone
1996
1996 Model: M195 / B
Drivers: washing Fisichella Lamy
Marques
Engine: Cosworth V8
Technical Dir: Tredozi Gennari
Tires: Goodyear
1995
1995 Model: M195
Drivers: Martini Badoer-Lamy
Engine: Cosworth V8
Technical Dir: Cost
Tires: Goodyear
1994
1994 Model: M194
Drivers: Martini Alboreto
Engine: Cosworth V8
Technical Dir: Cost
Tires: Goodyear
1993
1993 Model: M193
Drivers: Fittipaldi Barbazza
Martini Gounon
Engine: Cosworth V8
Technical Dir: Cost
Tires: Goodyear
1992
1992 Model: M192 / M192 + L
Drivers: Morbidelli Fittipaldi
Zanardi
Engine: V12 Lamborghini
Technical Dir: Cost
Tires: Goodyear
1991
1991 Model: M191
Drivers: Martini Morbidelli Moreno
Engine: Ferrari V12
Technical Dir: Cost
Tires: Goodyear
1990
1990 Model: M190
Drivers: Martini Barilla Morbidelli
Engine: Cosworth V8 Mader
Technical Dir: Cost
Tires: Pirelli
1989
1989 Model: M189
Drivers: Sala Barilla Martini
Engine: Cosworth V8 Mader
Technical Dir: Cost
Tires: Goodyear
1988
1988 Model: M188
Drivers: Hall Campos Martini
Engine: Cosworth V8 Mader
Technical Dir: Caliri
Tires: Goodyear
1987
1987 Model: M186
Drivers: Nannini Campos
Engine: V6 M. Modern
Technical Dir: Caliri
Tires: Goodyear
1986
1986 Model: M185 / M186 + B
Drivers: Nannini Campos
Engine: V6 M. Modern
Technical Dir: Caliri
Tires: Pirelli
1985
1985 Model: M185
Drivers: Martini
Engine: Cosworth V8 V6 M. Modern
Technical Dir: Caliri
Tires: Pirelli