DECEMBER 19, 2003

Minardi's "new" new PS04

When Paul Stoddart bought the old Arrows A23 chassis last year, he intended to use the cars as the basis for the PS04 challengers in 2004. But after tests during the autumn Stoddart has now apparently concluded that the Arrows car was not good enough and a new car is being fashioned using elements from the current Minardi with some of the better bits of the Arrows, notably some of the aerodynamics.

The cars will feature the bottom half of the 2003 Minardi monocoque but a completely new top section to improve the aerodynamics. The cars will retain much of the existing rear end because it was so reliable in 2003 but there will be a new airbox and new bodywork, some of it derived from the Arrows.