Minardi Sign New 2005 Deal with Cosworth

Cosworth will supply Minardi with new engines next season - the same as will be provided to Jaguar Racing - team principal Paul Stoddart told Atlas F1.

Cosworth have been providing Minardi with engines since 2003, but the Italian team have been running an older specification of the engine - this year's engine spec is reportedly three years old.

However, for the 2005 season, Stoddart reveals he has signed a deal with the Ford-owned engine maker that will see him receive the same engines as Ford's Jaguar Racing team.

"We signed an agreement with Cosworth at Hungary for an engine supply for next year," Stoddart told Atlas F1 during the Belgian Grand Prix. "We will be running exactly the same specification engine as Jaguar next year. It will be called the TJ."

Stoddart would not say how much he would be paying for the engines, but he is thought to be getting a deal within the range of 10 to 15 million US dollars a year.

Cosworth also provide engines to Jordan-Ford, but no deal has been signed yet between the Silverstone-based outfit and Cosworth for next season.

The engine makers are expected to provide units that will last for two race weekends rather than one weekend, as they have this season.