Minardi to Test Last Year's Arrows Next Week

Minardi will see what they can learn from last year's Arrows car when they test it alongside their own PS03 Formula One car in Italy next month.

"We'll be doing the test on the 16th at Mugello, we will let Jos (Verstappen) drive both cars," said team boss Paul Stoddart, who bought the Ford-engined Arrows A23s in June after the British-based team folded.

"I need some accurate driver reports on certain parts of the Arrows to see whether we are going to incorporate it in next year's car," he added.

The Arrows, designed by Mike Coughlan who is now at McLaren, scored two points last year and looked more competitive than the Minardi.

Minardi had planned a back-to-back test before now, but were held up by an August test ban and the need to give new Danish driver Nicolas Kiesa enough time in the car.

"The test should have happened already, we were ready to go but, when we did the driver swap with Nicolas, I had to use the one and only test I could get away with for his super-licence," said Stoddart.

Kiesa replaced Briton Justin Wilson, who took over from Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia at Jaguar last month, as Dutchman Verstappen's teammate.

Minardi, perennial strugglers who nonetheless celebrated their 300th Grand Prix in Hungary on Sunday, are the only one of the 10 teams yet to score a point this season.