Minardi Must Find a Sponsor for 2002, Says Stoddart

The Minardi team will need to find a title sponsor next year because team owner Paul Stoddart will not fund them in 2002, the Australian businessman has admitted.

Stoddart, who saved the small Italian outfit earlier this year when he bought it from the late Gabriele Rumi, used his own money to keep Minardi alive in 2001, and though he admits it was worth it, the Australian said the team need a sponsor for the 2002 season.

"If we achieve what we want to and eventually put Minardi on the podium it will have been worth what I've spent," Stoddart told the Independent newspaper. "I'm not greedy, I'll settle for a third. But I won't be funding the team next year. We have to get a sponsor. Contrary to popular belief, we don't have a driver who brings money to the team."

Minardi, the only team who have not scored a point so far this season, were on the verge of not making it to the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia, but after a lot of work against the clock the Faenza-based outfit were able to be on the grid for the race and Stoddart claims it can't get any better than that.

"Nothing will repeat the experience of making the grid in Melbourne, the hard part and the enjoyable part," he said. "The reception we got there was a once in a lifetime thing. And then we had a dream start, finishing races and getting a ninth place in Brazil. We are in there competing with Arrows, Prost and Benetton.

"It's been heartening the way people up and down the pitlane have shown us the utmost respect and congratulated us on saving the team," he added. "That makes the hard work worthwhile. It is harder to compete at this end of the grid than at the other. Teams at this end have to earn their keep more. If we get a point it will be like winning.

"I'm sure that if Minardi finishes in sixth place half the other teams will be cheering for us. And it will be genuine."

Minardi are currently using the three-year old Ford engine and are still to announce which unit will power their cars in 2002.