Minardi boss says toughest test is yet to come…

After completing just 50km of running before last weekend's season-opener in Melbourne, Fernando Alonso managed to finish in 12th place in the race and ran as high as 14th during the practice sessions before the race.

Stoddart, who hails from Melbourne, and his Anglo-Italian team received huge local support after only just managing to get two cars finished in time for the beginning of the season, but the aviation magnate believes the toughest test could be yet to come.

"We proved a lot of things in Australia," Stoddart exclusively told Radio Autosport, "but we have got problems, mainly because we haven't done any testing. The big teams have done as much as 4000km of running over the winter to sort out problems and the fact that we haven't means Malaysia and Brazil are going to be very, very difficult races for us."

Minardi traditionally runs near to the back of the F1 grid, but Stoddart has big plans for the team, which since its change of ownership is being run from between Minardi's Faenza base and European Aviation's Herefordshire factory in the UK.

Due to the highly competitive and expensive nature of F1, teams find it almost impossible to move up the grid without manufacturer support with engines. Minardi is currently using a three-year-old Ford ZetecR V10, rebadged as a European, but that is set to change for next season.

"We're not as far behind as people think," continued Stoddart. "I'm sure we'll be adequate this year, but for next year, to get into the midfield, we're going to need another engine partner. We're already talking to two parties about that and hopefully, by the middle of the year, we'll be able to make an announcement, which should enable us to move up the grid."

A large part of Minardi's success last weekend was put down to the talent of Alonso, who completely overshadowed F1 returnee and team mate Tarso Marques. The young Spaniard's qualifying lap was almost 2.5s faster than that of Marques, but already rumours suggest that Minardi will struggle to retain the services of the 19-year-old, who is under contract to Benetton boss Flavio Briatore. Not surprisingly, Stoddart is keen to refute the rumours.

"I don't think there is any doubt that we can hold on to him for this year and most likely next," said Stoddart. "But as you can see from his performance last weekend, he has a fantastic career ahead of him."

The brace of Minardi-European PS01s have been flown directly to the Sepang circuit for the Malaysian GP and the team is not due to conduct any testing between races until after the fourth round of the championship at Imola on April 15.