Piccini for Fiorano test.

European Minardi F1 will conduct a brief shakedown of its latest-specification PS01 chassis this Friday at the Fiorano test track.

One of the team's two official test drivers, Andrea Piccini, will be at the wheel of the European Minardi PS01B for the short, 50-km run at Ferrari's extensively equipped private facility.

The 22-year-old, who so far this season has a pair of top-10 finishes for European Minardi F3000 to his credit and qualified an excellent fourth at the most recent, Hockenheim round of the FIA International F3000 Championship, has a clear brief for the test. He is to assist technical personnel in checking a slightly modified version of the team's new gearbox and accompanying aerodynamic package ahead of next weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The combination showed promise when tested recently at Monza and the revisions are intended to address a minor durability issue related to the transmission.

If Piccini's efforts indicate the changes have achieved the desired result, the team intends to run at least one PS01B chassis at the Hungaroring.

"Andrea is showing increasingly strong form in Formula 3000 and did a solid job when he tested for us in early July, at Mugello," said European Minardi F1 General Director, Gian Carlo Minardi. "Add to that the fact he is Italian-based, and it makes sense for him to carry out this shakedown at Fiorano. I'm sure he will provide the engineers with useful feedback and the opportunity will also allow him to add to his growing bank of Formula One experience."

The next formal test session for European Minardi will commence at Mugello, on Wednesday, August 22.