APRIL 17, 2001

Albers joins Minardi

EUROPEAN RACING's former Formula 3000 star Christijan Albers will join Formula One outfit Minardi for a test at Italy's Mugello circuit on Wednesday.

Albers, 22, moved to the official Mercedes team in the DTM touring car championship this year, but was ecstatic to be given the call by Paul Stoddart to try out the Minardi PS01.

"It was my birthday yesterday and this is the best present I could have," said Albers. "I know many of the team already from my time with them in Formula 3000. It will be a challenge to get to grips with a current Formula One car."

He was, for Stoddart, the only man for the job, and will join Minardi's regular drivers Tarso Marques and Fernando Alonso at the test, which is Minardi's first of the season.

"We have known Christijan for several tears and rate him highly as a talented young racing driver," said Stoddart. "We have a considerable amount of work to get through as quickly as possible, so we asked Christijan to help us out."

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