Minardi Team - 1998

Drivers Esteban Tuero Shinji Nakano

Tyres

Minardi facts and figures

(c)REUTERS

Location: LONDON

Following are facts and figures for Minardi Formula One motor racing team:

Formula One record -

Starts - 205

Poles - 0

Wins - 0

1997 season - zero points

History -

1985 - First grand prix in Brazil

Best finish - fourth, twice in 1991, once in 1993.

Best finish in constructors' championship - seventh in 1991.

M198 powered by Ford-Zetec V10 engine, Bridgestone tyres.

The underfunded minnow in the Formula One pond, Minardi can expect little improvement on their pointless 1997 season. Likely to prop up the grid not least because of their untried drivers' line-up.

Drivers:

Shinji Nakano - Aged 26, Japanese. Races 17, poles 0, wins 0. Joined from Prost where he made his debut last year. Best results were sixth in the Canadian and Hungarian Grands Prix. Solid, paying driver. Came to Europe after five seasons F3 and F3000 racing in Japan. Son of Formula Three driver Tsuneji Nakano.

Esteban Tuero - Aged 19, Argentine

Makes his Formula One debut this season after test driving for Minardi last season. Only reached 2,000-km of lap time required for F1 licence in final testing session last month. Son of Formula Two driver Eduardo Tuero. Came to Italy in 1995 after winning junior championships in native Argentina.

News

19 March 1998

• Minardi satisfied with testing

18 March 1998

• Minardi test report.

17 March 1998

• Minardi testing at Mugello

13 March 1998

• Minardi left behind

10 March 1998

• Faulty speed limitor caused Esteban's speeding in the pit lane.

8 March 1998

• Minardi Australian GP race press release
• Young drivers learn the hard way
• Result of Australian Grand Prix
• Sunday's practice times

7 March 1998

• Driver's comments after Saturday's qualifying
• Minardi Australian GP qualifying press release
• Revised Australian Grand Prix qualifying times
• Australian Grand Prix qualifying times

6 March 1998

• Nakano and Frentzen fined
• Tuero bids to make history in Melbourne
• Minardi Australian GP practice press release
• Australian Grand Prix practice session times

2 March 1998

• Light practice for Minardi drivers.
• Minardi will have enough backup engines.
• Odds for 1998 grand prix season

1 March 1998

• Two drivers to debut at Melbourne.

28 February 1998

• What to expect in 1998
• Minardi to arrive in Melbourne on Sunday

27 February 1998

• Minardi ready for Melbourne

25 February 1998

• Esteban Tuero obtains his super-license

24 February 1998

• New Minardi M198 Ford launched - Full report
• Minardi to start test session

23 February 1998

• Minardi launched
• Last F1 team to launch 1998 car.

16 February 1998

• Minardi end test at Barcelona

13 February 1998

• Minardi's test report for Thursday & Wednesday

9 February 1998

• Tuero's denied super-licence

8 February 1998

• Minardi test report

31 January

• Nakano joins Minardi F1 team

30 January

• Strengthening Minardi team
• Minardi's line-up finalised