SEPTEMBER 15, 1997

Tuero tests for Minardi

MINARDI last week tested nineteen-year-old Argentine driver Esteban Tuero at Mugello. Tuero, who is currently racing in Formula Nippon in Japan, completed 57 laps of the Ferrari test track near Florence, using the 1998-spec narrow-track Minardi. He ran with both 1997 and 1998 tires.

It was Tuero's first run in a Grand Prix car, despite the fact that Minardi signed a testing deal with him in December 1995 - when he was only 17 years old.

Minardi says that he intends to continue his policy of employing young drivers and it is possible that Tuero might join TarsoÊMarques next year. In recent seasons Minardi had helped to bring on both Giancarlo Fisichella and Jarno Trulli and has done very well by selling their contracts on to bigger teams.