Minardi on the up????

Well, according to the latest news the new evolution of the Fondmetal engine, due to debut at Barthelona in a fortnight, is 30bhp more powerful than the engine Minardi were using up until now.

Apparently Ford has been mightily impressed by the M02 in general, including the evolved engine AND the new gearbox used by Gene at Silverstone.

So, can anyone tell me just how much 30bhp is???? How much quicker will this make them go????

And does this mean Ford will be willing to provide Minardi with a much better engine in 2001????

30bhp is quite a jump this early in the season. I still doubt somehow that it will icline Ford to give them a decent engine - they're in with Jaguar and Jaguar alone. Until Minardi start overtaking Johnny/Luciano and Eddie. Then maybe Ford will buy Minardi and make them a works Ford team, and sell Jaguar back to the ugly scot with the horrible tartan trousers...

MichaelC Is it because a SCOT won the last race that made you annoyed enough to comment on Mr Stewart's rugged features or do you dislike SCOTS in general?

ok :) smiley

well Ferrari are pretty good
so are McLaren
Willams are fairly fast
so are Jordan
Benneton can be quick when they have their traction control going (ouch....sorry)
Arrows?
BAR?
Jag :(
Prost :(

30bhp is almost incredible, although that engine is too underpowered and they have a lot of ground for improvement. A lap time could be reduce up to second and a half. I hope to see Gene on the top for my GP.

About Ford support for 2001, Jaguar has too many problems already to think about two teams for next season.

Minardi Man: I know you keep telling us that its a good chassis, but how many bad chassis are there out there?

Its not GOOD, its one of the top 3 m8.

Bad.... the Jaguar is apparently - it's very complicated hence the lack of speed.

Also the Prost I think must be.

Tahnks for the info @ngel....

GO MINARDI!

Madfan -

I don't dislike Scotland or it's people at all. It's got some of the best scenery within driving distance, and has produced some wonderful people - Carol Smillie :) and Kirstie Young for example.
I'm extremely glad that DC had his car hold up long enough to win the race.
And I'm all in favour of being patriotic.

What I don't like is the way that Jackie Stewart appears to have been surgically attached to Tartan. Every time I see him he has the same pair of trousers on, or the hat. The guy even has tartan carpet in his office.

Wear a kilt to functions if you wish, wave the Scottish flag when you're stuffing us at Rugby, but not all the time, please!

And remember TV hates chequered clothes...

You forgot Lorraine Kelly.

;)

Actually since I finished being a student, I'd totally forgotten about LK. But we'll add her as well ;)

There was a rumour recently, that if Peugeot stay in F1 they will switch to Minardi from Prost coz the Minardi is so good and the Prost is Not.

Sounds possible, but I just hope Peugeot actually start putting money into their F1 program. Their record is pitiful, their engine is underpowered and un-reliable and after several years the powerplant hasn’t produced any significant results. Then again maybe it's their partnership with Prost that led to this. Either way Minardi deserves a better engine then they currently have.

I haven't a lot to add to this debate, except that it's always nice to see the little guy putting one over on the corporate machines.

So more power to Minardi.

More importantly, however...

...don't forget Clare Grogan.

I must admit Jackie carries the tartan thing a bit too far. As an expatriot living in Canada since 65 I am unfamiliar with the Scots that you mentioned. Are they TV celebs?

Carol Smillie: Chirpy hyperactive mad woman who won the Rear of the Year Award....

Kirsty Young: Dead sophisticated but a bit old newsreader....

Lorraine Kelly: Still Scotland's brightest star, currently on breakfast tv....

Erm.... Clare Grogan??? I know the name. <help!>

Back to the point:

Seeing Peugeout move to Minardi would not surprise me at all - plus anything is better than a 2-year-old Ford Zetec. (Except when it keeps blowing up.)

[This message has been edited by Minardi fan (edited 26 April 2000).]

Really, Minardi Fan!

Clare Grogan is...

Lead Singer of the group Altered Images
"Happy birthday, happy birthday...."

The girl Gregory finally met in "Gregory's Girl"

Presenter of ITV's "Night Network"

Host of the Clare Grogan hour on "VH-1"

The original Chrissie Kotchanski in the first three series of "Red Dwarf"

Ring any bells?

Minardi on the up? Where else can they go?

If they get rid of that boat-anchor of an engine, we'll get to see if your claim that Minardi has the best chassis in F1 is true, M-Man.

Weren't Minardi after the much improved Supertec for this season? Or even the old Ferrari unit? As always, I have been impressed with Minardi (without doubt the best team in F1 performance/budget), but I can't help thinking that if that deal went through they'd be up there in the mid grid (stop giggling).

MINARDI KICK ASS! IF ANYONE DISRESPECTS THEM I'LL.... DO SOMETHING NASTY! GO GASTON! ROCK ON MARC!

Yes Minardi were after the Supertecs for this season, until Flav told them they had no place in F1....

Then they were supposed to get last year's Fords....

And now they are lumbered with the crappy Zetec from 2 years ago.

However I'm hopeful for Petronas engines for next season :).

Midfield? Even higher? You'd better believe it.

:)