Stoddart Will Bring Results, Says Minardi

Paul Stoddart's takeover of the ailing Minardi team will help them become a force in Formula One, according to team founder Gian Carlo Minardi.

Stoddart, 45, the owner of European Aviation, was confirmed as the new chairman and team principal of the Faenza-based team on Tuesday after negotiations to buy Gabriele Rumi's majority stake in the team were finalised in Italy.

Minardi, who will remain as a director of the team he founded in 1979, predicted that the Italian outfit have a bright future in the sport with Stoddart planning big things.

"I firmly believe that the co-operation with Paul Stoddart's European Aviation Group will lead to important results," Minardi said.

"What he is doing for the present is nothing compared with what he is planning for the future. I will be providing all my experience to let the team show its true value."

Rumi hands over the team after five year at the helm, but the Italian industrialist believes that Minardi now have the best possible chance of success in the sport.

Rumi said: "For quite some time, I have been stating the necessity for a group to take over the team in order to provide the resources required to compete in today's Formula One, which is becoming more and more competitive.

"After several ups and downs, this agreement now represents the ideal solution to all Minardi's existing problems. I wish the new ownership, and the whole team, a successful future."

The Minardi operation will be "dovetailed" between the team's current Faenza-base and European Aviation's Ledbury-base in England.

Founder Minardi is expected to formulate a young driver development programme and an announcement on the team's two pilots for 2001 will be made in the coming weeks.