Might as well give my mother the 2nd Minardi seat
Discussion
Because even she's quicker than bloody Zsolt Baumgartner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And she doesn't even drive
And she doesn't even drive
Autosport said:
Minardi has revealed that it has offered Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner a race drive for the 2004 season.
The deal is contingent on the completion of necessary commercial arrangements, although the Italian team is hopeful that Baumgartner's place in the team can be finalised before the end of the week.
Baumgartner raced in Formula 3000 for the majority of the season, although he competed in two grands prix for Jordan, deputising for the injured Ralph Firman in Hungary and Italy.
"I have watched Zsolt's racing career since his F3000 days," said Minardi boss Paul Stoddart. "I was hugely impressed by the way in which he conducted himself when thrust into the spotlight at his home Grand Prix, in Hungary, this year, stepping in for the injured Ralph Firman at very short notice.
"I'm sure he will be a real asset to European Minardi, and as he is fluent in five languages, including Italian, I am sure he will fit in like a glove when it comes to working with the team. We look forward to a great season with Zsolt in 2004."
Should Baumgartner secure the drive, he will join Italian Gianmaria Bruni in the team. This leaves Jordan as the only team yet to complete its driver line-up for the 2004 season.
I think that Justin has run out of money though. It appears that everything has worked against him. He put everything into getting the first season, which was supposed to springboard him into the sport - then the regulations changed, which means that he will be unlikely to get a test drive due to the experience that cost him so dear.
All's fair in love and racing it would appear
All's fair in love and racing it would appear
daydreamer said:
All's fair in love and racing it would appear
Plus the fact that Jaguar don't seem to know their arse from their elbow these days. Justin never had the chance to settle down and show what he could do, and if Ford need to use these tactics they'll lose the few friends they have left.
In the days of wooden wheels Jaguar backed their drivers 100%. Loyalty was a two-way commitment, and the result was always a better drive from a confident driver.
Ron Dennis seems to be the only team principal who understands this, and (within reason) tries to handle driver selection with a bit of sensitivity. Jaguar should be ashamed of themselves.
hornet said:
ettore said:
couldn`t agree more - stability is and always has been key to doing the job well.
Unless you employ David Coulthard... *ducksforcover*
Has Baumgartner done anything of note? I haven't seen F3000 for a bit, but I don't recall him being anything other than average.
He was team mate to Darren Manning in the Arden Team Russia F3000 squad run by Christian Horner a couple of years back.
You didn't measure the gap between the two on the grid in seconds you used moon cycles instead.
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 31st December 01:00
FourWheelDrift said:
He was team mate to Darren Manning in the Arden Team Russia F3000 squad run by Adrian Horner a couple of years back.
You didn't measure the gap between the two on the grid in seconds you used moon cycles instead.
So Minardi have got an average F3000 driver and an ex Euro F3000 driver this year? Hmmm. Maybe it's an FIA ploy to create chicanes without actually rebuilding circuits?
The Minardi team today announced that it has officially signed Hungarian, Zsolt Baumgartner, as the second of its two race drivers for the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship season.
The promising 22-year-old from Budapest thus joins Italy’s Gianmaria Bruni in the Faenza team’s line-up, both men competing for the first time in a full World Championship season. Baumgartner contested two Formula One events in 2003 – the Hungarian and Italian GPs – when he was drafted in to replace the injured Ralph Firman at Jordan, but 2004 will mark the first time a Hungarian driver has raced full-time in the World Championship.
“For me, Christmas has definitely come early this year,” comments Baumgartner. “The two races I did this past season made me more determined than ever that I wanted to be in Formula One. I have now realised that dream, although I don’t think the reality of it has quite sunk in yet.
“There are many people who have helped me to get to this point in my racing career, but I particularly want to thank Thomas Frank, for his unstinting efforts on my behalf, and Paul Stoddart, for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do in Formula One. I just want to start working with the European Minardi team as soon as possible, so that I can be well prepared for the beginning of the season. It is a huge challenge, but I am really looking forward to it.”
European Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, says, “We are very pleased that we have been able to finalise Zsolt’s contract at this time. I believe he has considerable ability, and hopefully, the nurturing environment within Minardi, which has helped to launch the Formula One careers of so many talented young drivers in recent years, will also allow him to develop and hone his skills to the point where he firmly establishes his credentials at the very top level of motor racing.”
Further news on European Minardi’s plans for 2004 will be announced early in the New Year Mina
The promising 22-year-old from Budapest thus joins Italy’s Gianmaria Bruni in the Faenza team’s line-up, both men competing for the first time in a full World Championship season. Baumgartner contested two Formula One events in 2003 – the Hungarian and Italian GPs – when he was drafted in to replace the injured Ralph Firman at Jordan, but 2004 will mark the first time a Hungarian driver has raced full-time in the World Championship.
“For me, Christmas has definitely come early this year,” comments Baumgartner. “The two races I did this past season made me more determined than ever that I wanted to be in Formula One. I have now realised that dream, although I don’t think the reality of it has quite sunk in yet.
“There are many people who have helped me to get to this point in my racing career, but I particularly want to thank Thomas Frank, for his unstinting efforts on my behalf, and Paul Stoddart, for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do in Formula One. I just want to start working with the European Minardi team as soon as possible, so that I can be well prepared for the beginning of the season. It is a huge challenge, but I am really looking forward to it.”
European Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart, says, “We are very pleased that we have been able to finalise Zsolt’s contract at this time. I believe he has considerable ability, and hopefully, the nurturing environment within Minardi, which has helped to launch the Formula One careers of so many talented young drivers in recent years, will also allow him to develop and hone his skills to the point where he firmly establishes his credentials at the very top level of motor racing.”
Further news on European Minardi’s plans for 2004 will be announced early in the New Year Mina
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