Minardi presented their new car today in ...

Published on 04 February 1997 by Verstappen Info Page

Minardi presented their new car today in Italy. The Minardi M197 will be powered by the Hart V8 engine that was used last year by Jos and the Arrows team. This year Hart will supply the air valve version which was tested several times by Arrows. What will also be new for the Hart V8 is the Magneti Marelli software for engine and gearbox. As already known Jarno Trulli and Ukyo Katayama will race the Italian cars while Tarso Marques will be the official reserve and test driver. Bridgestone will be the tyre supplier for the next two years.

Partly due to the Mild Seven sponsoring the team's financial situation looks a lot rosier than in recent years. Above all the team can now count on the support of Benetton teamboss Flavio Briatore who is a part owner. Gabriele Rumi of Fondmetal research and ex Formula 1 driver Alessandro Nannini are also part owners of the Minardi team. Nannini will also perform some P.R. duties this year. Despite founder Giancarlo Minardi now is a minor shareholder, he will remain in charge of the day to day running of the team.

Besides the live broadcasting of RTL 4 in the Netherlands, the NOS will broadcast a summary of each race of about 10 minutes during the evening program.