Minardi secure Cosworth engines for 2005

[Stephen Green]

Minardi have done a deal with Cosworth to run the same engines as Jaguar F1 in next years F1 World Championship. Until now Minardi have been running 4 year old engines.

[Giando]

If it's true this is a good new (although Coswrth engines aren't exactly the best around...)
Sadly, I've just read an article saying that Paul Stoddarts would ask the Federation to postpone the new chassis-rules because he wants to race with the same monocoque next year (again!!!!!).

Poor Giancarlo Minardi. At least, his old team designed and built a new (and very interesting) chassis almost every year...

Ciao

[Stephen Green]

The news comes from a press release on Reuters:

16:21 31Aug2004 RTRS-Motor racing-Minardi secure Cosworth engine deal for 2005

LONDON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Minardi have secured a deal to use the same Cosworth engines as Ford-funded Jaguar in 2005, the Formula One team said on Tuesday.
The back-of-the-grid Minardi outfit, who have used four-year-old engines this season, said the deal would provide them with "the opportunity for significantly enhanced power performance" next year.
Cosworth will also benefit from the deal with reduced costs because they will no longer have to assist in running two different power units.
Bernard Ferguson, the Cosworth commercial director, said: "We have long-standing ties with Minardi and continue to feel that its fighting spirit and independent status in Formula One render it a more-than-worthy partner."
New regulations for next year are set to be confirmed on September 6 and are expected to see the introduction of a requirement for engines to last for two races rather than the current one race.
Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart said: "Cosworth has been a great technical partner and this latest arrangement will undoubtedly give Minardi a considerable boost.
"It will provide the team with the opportunity to fight some of its Formula One rivals on a more level playing field and I very much look forward to continuing with what has become a truly excellent relationship."
Minardi have scored just one point this year with an eighth place for Hungarian driver Zsolt Baumgartner in the United States Grand Prix in June and lie bottom of the 10-team constructors' standings.
((Editing by Ed Osmond. Reuters Messaging: ed.osmond.reuters.com@reuters.net. + 44 207 5427933))

[006_007]

Originally posted by Stephen Green
Minardi have done a deal with Cosworth to run the same engines as Jaguar F1 in next years F1 World Championship. Until now Minardi have been running 4 year old engines.

I am assuming it was worded this way due to the possibility that next seasons engines need to last more then 1 race weekend.

I do not believe that Minardi are currently using 4 year old engines. I do not think they would be able to survive the one engine/weekend rule that is currently in place. I do believe that they are several "steps" behind Jaguar, and maybe one or two behind Jordans?

[ASCII Man]

Minardi were using the first Cosworth engine that Jaguar used in 2000???
No wonder they're so far behind....

Uhm, Mr Numbers?
Ever heard about the concept "modification"?

[Knowlesy]

I thought Minardi were using early spec 2003 engines at this point in time.

[BootsOntheSide]

Minardi's current engines are down-tuned so as to last the whole weekend (which, in fairness, they generally have managed). Whereas Ferrari are pulling similar power to 2003 with no reliability problems, Minardi are stuck with a hobbled version of a 'quite good' 2000 engine. That's got to explain at least half their deficit on time.

Sadly, even with average engines, they will still have all the usual problems, and I can't imagine them being consistantly ahead of anyone next year, unless the 2nd Jordan has a pay-driver of a lower standard than Pantano.

[cds_uk]

Got to be good news, very pleased for them myself, as for Boots`s last comment, hmmm maybe, but if Paul can get someone like Montagny into one of the cars then all of a sudden you have a much better driver (compaired to this years pair, got to be the weakest ever F1 team mates) as well as a much better engine, at least they will be able to race with the Jordans instead of dropping away at a rapid rate of knots.

[Knowlesy]

Well, nothing will change if they don't produce a better chassis.

Which, let's face it, is unlikely to happen.