AUGUST 3, 2001

Yoong and Minardi

AS we predicted on July 16 Alex Yoong will drive for Minardi at the Belgian Grand Prix - if the FIA agrees to give him a Superlicence. That decision rests with the Permanent Bureau of the Formula 1 Commission which consists of FIA President Max Mosley, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, Ferrari's Jean Todt and McLaren's Ron Dennis. They will agree to give him a licence if he has shown in testing that he is capable of competing at a decent level.

Yoong is due to test again at Monza after the current testing ban ends in the days following the Hungarian GP. He would then be able to take over from Tarso Marques in Belgium.

Yoong says that he will definitely be with the team in 2002.

Yoong's support comes from the Magnum Corporation, which is believed to be paying $5m for the rest of this season and a considerable amount more for next year.