NOVEMBER 10, 2004

Maldonaldo to get Minardi test

Minardi has added yet another name to its list of drivers who are due to test at Misano later this month with a deal having been struck with Pastor Maldonado.

Minardi has added yet another name to its list of drivers who are due to test at Misano later this month with a deal having been struck with Pastor Maldonado, a 19-year-old Venezuelan driver who has been competing in the Italian Formula Renault series and won this year's title, driving for Cram Competition team. That may not sound much but it is worth noting that the previous Italian Formula Renault Champions have been Felipe Massa (2000), Ryan Briscoe (2001), Jose Maria Lopez (2002) and Franck Perera (2003) all of whom have gone on to better things. Maldonaldo easily outran Japan's Kohei Hirate, a member of the Toyota F1 young driver scheme.