107% Rule is Dead, Says Stoddart

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart will no longer have to worry about his drivers failing to qualify for a Grand Prix in 2003 because he claimed the 107 percent rule that caught the team out several times this year is now dead with the new regulations.

Qualifying will now take place over Friday and Saturday, with each driver doing one flying lap on their own in each session. Friday's times will dictate the starting order for Saturday's session, with the fastest driver running last.

Stoddart was forced to rest Malaysian Alex Yoong after this season's German Grand Prix because that event saw the 25-year-old driver fail to get within the required 107 percent of pole position for the third time.

With Michael Schumacher and Ferrari so fast this season, the gap between the front and back of the grid regularly left Minardi with serious concerns that they might not make it onto the grid.

That, on several occasions for Yoong, meant that sponsors were not happy and a relieved Stoddart revealed: "It's gone. Imagine if you go out first thing Saturday lunchtime - you haven't got a chance in hell. The 107 percent is dead."

But Stoddart also said the proposed two-hour test session on Friday, if it proves popular enough to be introduced, would allow him to gain extra sponsorship by running a local driver as a test driver.

He believes that would put an end to 'pay' drivers racing in Formula One, and added: "Formula One has moved on now. Where you will see the interesting drivers is in these two hours on a Friday.

"I think it is fair to say you are only going to see 20 drivers in Formula One next year that are all absolutely guaranteed worthy of the place that they have got."