Stoddart Defends Malcharek's Signing

Minardi owner Paul Stoddart said on Thursday that new test driver Jirko Malcharek will perform only aerodynamic testing in return for input of sponsorship into the team.

Malcharek, a 35-year-old Slovakian parliamentarian, was named as an official test driver on Wednesday and Stoddart admitted that sponsorship has been made for the privilege of testing for the team.

"He's quite good," Stoddart said. "He did a two-day test, didn't hurt the car and did everything he was told to do and did a good job. But he is limited to aerodynamic testing."

Stoddart defended the decision to hand Malcharek the role in his cash-strapped team and admitted that he is not ashamed to accept the vital funding as he looks to keep Minardi alive.

"I'm not ashamed about that," he said. "Minardi over the years, if we hadn't given drivers a break for money, you wouldn't see half of these guys in the pitlane because they would never have been given a break.

"Obviously he has brought some sponsorship and sometimes, in return for sponsorship, you let him drive the car. There are plenty of examples and Minardi are by no means making ground breaking territory here."