Minardi to test youngsters

The test will run for three days from December 10, and will see the Italian team run Formula Renault V6 Eurocup champion Jose Maria Lopez, Dallara Nissan front-runner Heikki Kovalainen and Euro F3000 racer Fabrizio Del Monte. There is a possibility that further young drivers will be given a run during the test.

Minardi will also run a separate programme, working on tyre testing, engine development and new chassis component testing, for one of its regular 2003 drivers.

"The driver evaluation part of the exercise is simply a further example of the team's ongoing, and highly successful policy of seeking out the best young talents on the motor racing scene and introducing them to F1 in a controlled and responsible year," said team boss Paul Stoddart.

"As for the technical programme scheduled for Vallelunga, this is aimed at developing some of the key performance aspects of the 2004 European Minardi Cosworth. Work is progressing well on the new car, and this test should provide the team's engineers and designers with some valuable data that will assist them in developing a definitive specification for the PS04."