Prize Drivers Impress Minardi.

The Minardi team began its biggest driver test for many years at Jerez yesterday [Monday], when it ran three young hopefuls alongside race regular Marc Gene.


The Spaniard set a base time for the rookies to aim at, while testing development parts in both clutch and gearbox, but the team concentrated on giving as much track time as possible to its young chargers. Even this wasn't enough, however, as Swede Peter Sundberg (Italian F3 champion 1999) was forced to cut short his run, and return today [Tuesday].


Both Giorgio Vinella (F3000 Italian champion) and Fernando Alonso (FNissan champion) managed to complete their time in the car, however and, despite a damp track preventing a comparison of lap times, both showed potential. Alonso, the youngest of the trio at just 19, created the biggest impression on team personnel as he quickly got to grips with the M01 chassis, although he admitted to a few fears before setting out.


"Before getting in the car, I thought I was going to have some problems with the gearchange and accelerator," he confessed, "but, once I had completed three or four laps, I felt very comfortable with the car.


"My direct future is most likely in F3000 although, like any pilot, I do not hide the fact that I would like to get into Formula One," he continued, "That's really the maximum [of my ambitions], although it no longer depends on me."


The returning Sundberg will be joined by F3000 veterans Max Wilson and Norberto Fontana at Jerez for day two of the latest F1 test. The Brazilian and Argentine national are tipped to be in contention for the second seat alongside Gene for 2000, as Minardi's major sponsor Telefonica is seeking to expand its market in South America.