Marchy Lee 3rd Driver for Minardi?

SKWei · 1 Mar 2005, 13:04 (Ref:1238998)

There's a report here http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/2241/200...130@211482.htm saying Minardi might be signing a BMW Asia driver as their third driver:

"Li Yingjian, the 2004 BMW Asian champion, is likely to join the F1 team Minar
According to Li, negotiations are underway, for him to become the third driver for the Formula One team.

If the deal is reached, Li will become China's first F1 driver. "

The sport gained a huge boost in the country last year when Shanghai, China's largest city, joins the Formula One calendar."

I haven't been keeping up with the scene over there for months now, so I really can't tell where the story is coming from.

As I understand it, they're talking about Marchy Lee from Hong Kong, using the Mandarin pronunciation of the driver's name. He was BMW Asia champ last year.

Kicking-back · 1 Mar 2005, 16:54 (Ref:1239216)

He could well have a testing deal a la Mr Nissany, but he wouldn't get a superlicence to be the third driver.

SKWei · 1 Mar 2005, 17:10 (Ref:1239224)

Good point Kicking back! I've been around a few of the bigger Chinese F1 sites, and the only one to mention the story is Sohu.com, his sponsor

And the story doesn't make any mention of a superlicence. It does clearly say third driver rather than tester, but I guess we can just put it down to pre-season publicity

Skam85 · 3 Mar 2005, 04:46 (Ref:1240742)

Don't know if I can read anything into this, but on Minardi's PS05, there are three drivers on the side of the car:

Christian Albers
Patrick Freisacher
Channock Nissany

Apparently Channock is in Melbourne, will he be third driver? (if Minardi race/practice)

Kicking-back · 3 Mar 2005, 08:15 (Ref:1240828)

Minardi won't run a third driver in Melbourne.

Nissany wouldn't get a superlicence in any case.

They're hoping to use Nicolas Kiesa in that role from Malaysia onwards.

Asa · 3 Mar 2005, 09:08 (Ref:1240878)

Minardi may not run altogether in Melbourne...

I wonder why Marchy Lee wants to be involved with Minardi right now if he was serious about his F1 hopes.

xman_wolve · 4 Mar 2005, 02:40 (Ref:1241885)

because it's the cheapest seat you can get

Mekola · 4 Mar 2005, 11:34 (Ref:1242242)

Kiesa (and Marchy Lee and Nissany if they could) looks as probably candidates for the 3rd Minardi seat this year.
I wonder if more names will be involved in that role...

kdr · 4 Mar 2005, 12:19 (Ref:1242298)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asa

Minardi may not run altogether in Melbourne...

I wonder why Marchy Lee wants to be involved with Minardi right now if he was serious about his F1 hopes.

maybe he's hoping PS will force another injunction to try and get the minardi two seater into the next race, then he can sit behind Albers and watch...

Korr · 4 Mar 2005, 13:09 (Ref:1242331)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asa

Minardi may not run altogether in Melbourne...

I wonder why Marchy Lee wants to be involved with Minardi right now if he was serious about his F1 hopes.

Starting at Minardi worked pretty well for Webber and Alonso.

Ryo28 · 4 Mar 2005, 15:26 (Ref:1242406)

Yes, but that was when the team were actually allowed to start races...

Red · 4 Mar 2005, 15:33 (Ref:1242409)

That was also when Giancarlo Minardi was pretty much involved.

Kicking-back · 4 Mar 2005, 16:24 (Ref:1242441)

Giancarlo's involvement now is no different to what it was when the team ran Webber and Alonso

f1_carzy · 4 Mar 2005, 16:54 (Ref:1242473)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdr

maybe he's hoping PS will force another injunction to try and get the minardi two seater into the next race, then he can sit behind Albers and watch...

I like that

Asa · 5 Mar 2005, 02:03 (Ref:1242829)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Korr

Starting at Minardi worked pretty well for Webber and Alonso.

Only if you are backed by Flavio, I doubt Marchy Lee is. He could end up being another Alex Yoong.

At least Alex Yoong got to race for the team...

Ryo28 · 11 Mar 2005, 12:53 (Ref:1249453)

The deal now looks more likely...

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=79480

Setantra · 11 Mar 2005, 13:51 (Ref:1249520)

Never heard of the lad. If Minardi were going to run a third driver, what about Verstappen?

Kicking-back · 11 Mar 2005, 13:54 (Ref:1249526)

That article just says "it's rumoured".

That doesn't make it "more likely".

He would not get a superlicence.

Ryo28 · 11 Mar 2005, 14:50 (Ref:1249600)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setantra

Never heard of the lad. If Minardi were going to run a third driver, what about Verstappen?

Presumably Verstappen isn't eligible as he has raced in more than 6 gp's over the last 2 years.

I only said it seemed more likely because at least sites other than the driver's own are reporting the rumour now!

Kicking-back · 11 Mar 2005, 15:00 (Ref:1249611)

Yes, but they just picked up the rumour from his website - and the fact they called it a "rumour" means it's clear they don't put much faith in it.

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