27 Facts About Minardi

Minardi was an Italian automobile racing team and constructor founded in Faenza in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi.

In 2001, to save the team from folding, Minardi sold it to Australian businessman Paul Stoddart, who ran the team for five years before selling it on to Red Bull GmbH in 2005 who renamed it Scuderia Toro Rosso.

From 2001, all of Minardi chassis were called "PS" then a number, the PS being the initials of team owner, Paul Stoddart.

Former Minardi drivers include double World Champion Fernando Alonso, Grand Prix winners Alessandro Nannini, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli and Mark Webber; CART IndyCar World Series double champion Alessandro Zanardi and race winners Justin Wilson and Christian Fittipaldi; and 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winners Michele Alboreto and Marc Gene.

Giancarlo Minardi's grandfather had a Fiat dealership in Faenza since 1927, while his father, Giovanni Minardi, competed in his own cars in the late 1940s.

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Minardi took the reins of the Scuderia del Passatore in the early 1970s.

Minardi decided to start competing with a Brabham BT28 chassis and an Alfa Romeo engine in Formula Italia rather than Formula 3, like it was decided before.

Minardi ran with March chassis and BMW engines in Formula Two from 1975 to 1979.

In 1979, Minardi received financial backing from well known Italian motor racing patron Piero Mancini and set up the Minardi racing team as a Formula Two constructor.

The first Minardi's driver was Miguel Angel Guerra, who achieved the 9th place in the standings with 10 points.

In 1981, Caliri and Marmiroli designed the Minardi M281 driven by Michele Alboreto, Johnny Cecotto, Miguel Angel Guerra, Roberto Farneti and Enzo Coloni: Alboreto won the Misano race and finished 8th with 13 points, Cecotto gained 3 points and moved to March in summer.

Minardi left the lower division at the end of 1984, although in 1986 a modified version of their final Formula Two car, the 283, was entered without success in two rounds of the Formula 3000 championship which had replaced Formula Two in 1985.

Caliri designed the M184, the team's prototype Formula One car around Alfa Romeo's V8 turbocharged engine but when engineer Carlo Chiti left Alfa Romeo to found Motori Moderni, Minardi became the only customer for his new V6 engine design.

In 1988, Minardi switched to Cosworth engines, and in 1989 it became top entrant for Pirelli's return to Formula One.

Minardi drove for them on their debut in 1985, scored their first point in the 1988 United States Grand Prix, although he had been running 5th for quite a long time during the race until being passed by Tyrrell's Jonathan Palmer, took their only front-row start at 1990 USA Grand Prix, their only lap leading a race in the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix, where he finished 5th, and scored their joint-best F1 result up to that point.

In 1991, Minardi became the first team in modern times to make use of customer engines from Ferrari and in 1992 they used Lamborghini V12s.

In 1993, Minardi enjoyed a good campaign, collecting seven points thanks to Christian Fittipaldi's fourth place in the 1993 South African Grand Prix and fifth place in the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix and Fabrizio Barbazza sixth places in the 1993 European Grand Prix and 1993 San Marino Grand Prix.

Money woes hit and in 1994 Minardi merged with BMS Scuderia Italia in an effort to survive.

Minardi gradually increased his interest in the Faenza outfit, becoming co-owner and chairman.

Minardi was known for not using pay drivers, but for the 2000 season, the team signed Argentinian Gaston Mazzacane, who only acquired the seat thanks to backing from the short-lived pay television channel Pan-American Sports Network.

Minardi was replaced by Mark Webber, another future race winner, and heavy attrition at his debut race in Melbourne saw him finish in the points in 5th, with teammate Alex Yoong just outside the points in 7th.

Minardi finished ahead of the Arrows team who went bankrupt halfway through the season due to mounting debts and several mounting court cases against them.

Minardi appealed to the competing car manufacturers for an agreement where the independent teams in Formula One would get cheaper engine deals than at present.

In 2004, Minardi was represented by two rookies, Italian Gianmaria "Gimmi" Bruni and Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner.

In 2005, Minardi's drivers were Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher.

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On 1 January 2006, Giancarlo Minardi re-acquired certain rights to use the Minardi name in racing.

Minardi's application was unsuccessful, with the 12th place on the grid being awarded to Prodrive.