New Head of Aerodynamics for Minardi

The European Minardi team announced on Thursday the appointment of former Prost team member Loic Bigois as new head of aerodynamics.

Frenchman Bigois will be based at European Minardi's Faenza factory, but will spend much of his time working in the nearby Fondmetal Technology wind tunnel, at Casumaro, run by Jean-Claude Migeot.

"We're very pleased to have signed such an experienced Formula One engineer as Loic," said Technical Director Gustav Brunner. "We expect him to play a major role in helping to develop this year's car as well as to lay down the direction for the team’s future aerodynamic programmes.

"It also says much for European Minardi and its prospects that a person of the calibre of Jean-Claude has agreed to assist us.

"We have said clearly that it is our intention to move the team steadily up the grid over the next few years, and it is people like Loic who will play a critical role in helping to make that happen. This is very good news indeed."