Fiorio quits Minardi.

Cesare Fiorio has left Minardi, apparently by mutual consent, as the Italian minnow moves closer to being sold.

The departure of the former Ferrari and Ligier team manager was announced in a short statement from Minardi late on Wednesday, and is understood to be closely linked to the probable sale of the team to Argentine media company PSN. Minardi's release claims that the parting of the ways 'was reached by mutual consent owing to the lack of agreement relating to the strategic choices the team intended to carry out', suggesting that Fiorio was opposed to the buy-out.

Minardi has been close to being sold on a couple of occasions in the past twelve months, and the move is seen as the only means of ensuring its survival by team bosses Giancarlo Minardi and Gabriele Rumi.

Should PSN, which is already a sponsor of the Faenza team, take over, number two driver Gaston Mazzacane is likely to be retained for a second season. The future of Marc Gene, however is less clear cut, as the Spaniard is likely to be sacrificed to please the new owners.