Minardi Sign Leinders as Third Driver

Belgian Bas Leinders will drive Minardi's third car in Friday practice at Formula One Grands Prix this season, the team said on Wednesday.

"I had always held out the hope that I would make it to Formula One at some stage and I am obviously very pleased that Minardi has now given me a chance to show what I can do," commented Leinders at the Australian Grand Prix. "Hopefully what we learn in testing on Friday will then benefit the team's performance in the race on Sunday."

New regulations for 2004 allow all but the top four teams to run three cars on the Friday before the race, providing the driver has competed in fewer than six grands prix during the previous two seasons.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart said the 28-year-old, who had an inauspicious test with Jordan earlier this year when he crashed on his first lap out of the Barcelona pits, remained doubtful for the season-opening session this Friday however.

"We have a slight issue with Bas's super-licence because this was a very late contract, only just been signed," he said at the unveiling of the team's new PS04B car. "I'm going to have discussions tonight as to whether we can get him through in time for Friday."

Portugal's former CART entry Tiago Monteiro has also been signed up as an official test driver in tandem with competing in the mainly Spanish-based Nissan world series.

The hard-up team, who finished last and failed to score a point last year, have Italian rookie Gianmaria Bruni and Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner as their race drivers.

"Despite all of the rumours and all of the politics, I'm proud of the fact that in 2004 Minardi is still here, fighting and still doing its best to uphold the honour of the independent teams," said Australian-born Stoddart.

Stoddart said Minardi had a full budget and were in their best shape for three or four years.

"I think we've made big progress over the winter but I'm also a realist and I accept that other teams will have done the same," he said, setting Minardi's target for the season as scoring a few points.

"I would be more than happy with four or five points this year and I would be particularly happy if one of those points was here in Melbourne this weekend," added Stoddart.