Gian Carlo Minardi's Trial Set to Begin in Italy

The trial against Gian Carlo Minardi over charges of illegal financial activity is set to begin in Italy, the former team owner told Atlas F1.

Minardi and the team's financial director Stefano Sangiorgi were investigated for allegations of forging invoices and falsifying accounts during the years 1993 and 1996.

In an exclusive interview, published this week, Minardi reveals his trial is set to begin, after a perliminary hearing took place last week.

"Unfortunately, we were involved through an international rogatory investigation we had nothing to do with," Minardi said. "Unluckily not everyone is clean and bleach-washed, so we got involved.

"The first hearing was held last week and now the trial phase should follow. I hope we'll come out of it cleanly because I can guarantee you that we have not done the things for which myself and our financial director Stefano Sangiorgi are accused of.

"If things were done wrongly it was in an effort to keep alive a company made of 120 people who have above average wages."

Gian Carlo Minardi no longer owns shares in the team, after Australian Paul Stoddart bought 100% of the team's shares three years ago.

Minardi said Stoddart is the sole owner of the team, and revealed that F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, did not buy a stake in the team despite announcements, at the 2003 Canadian Grand Prix, that he would buy a minority stake in exchange for $4 million USD.

"I've never seen that money," Minardi told Atlas F1. "They don't exist in the books. In my opinion - and he denied it too - Ecclestone has never been a partner of Stoddart. He probably took back a quote ('Minardi should go') which was neither classy nor nice, and especially not relevant.

"He never denied it in public but only in private that he ever entered Minardi's share capital. I can guarantee you that he never entered Minardi's share capital from a technical point of view. The capital is 100% Paul Stoddart's, so I'm not able to give you an explanation for whatever that was about."

Minardi added that Ecclestone did not loan or donate the money to Stoddart or the team either.

Read the full interview with Gian Carlo Minardi in this week's Atlas F1 Magazine issue