Mansell: Yes to Minardi, but only its two-seater

Mansell, 47, signed a deal in October to drive European Aviation Racing's two-seater, but that's as close as he will come to a full-time return to Formula 1 racing this year, despite fanciful rumours that he will partner Fernando Alonso in European Minardi's F1 line up.

"The stories are absolutely untrue," Minardi boss Paul Stoddart exclusively told Autosport.com. "Mansell is contracted to drive the two-seater car, which will be known as the European Minardi F1 x2, but that is all and that's where it finishes. We don't know how often he will drive the two-seater, but he's got a busy schedule so it probably won't be more than about four to six times throughout the year."

European has built eight of the re-branded two-seater machines, run in Arrows colours last year, and Stoddart wants to create "multi-car, high-speed demonstrations" for sponsors and corporate guests.

The 45-year-old multi-millionaire aviation magnate said of the deal: "By bringing Nigel to the programme we have added a further dimension to the experience. It is one thing to be driven at high speed, but to do it with Nigel is quite frankly the ultimate passenger ride."

Mansell last drove an F1 car at the Coy's Historic Festival at Silverstone, when he demonstrated a Lotus 79 and 98T. His last season of F1 racing was in 1995, when he walked out after just two races as team mate to Mika Hakkinen at McLaren-Mercedes, claiming the car was uncompetitive. Three years later, Hakkinen won the World Championship for the Woking-based team.

The 1992 World Champion and 1993 CART title winner has numerous time-consuming business interests, and his last racing campaign was three British Touring Car Championship rounds with Ford in 1998.

Former Sauber, Arrows and Ferrari driver Gianni Morbidelli still appears to be the favourite for the last seat on the F1 grid with European Minardi this year. An announcement is expected to be made before the Anglo-Italian team shakes down its new cars for the first time next week.