F1 stragglers Minardi have signed 22-year-old test driver Gianmaria “Gummi” Bruni to drive for the Faenza-based team next year.
F1 stragglers Minardi have signed 22-year-old test driver, Gianmaria “Gummi” Bruni, to drive for the Faenza-based team next year.
The young Roman was ecstatic with his 2004 opportunity. “I will just be one of 20 drivers on the grid at the beginning. My aim is to move forward and establish myself in F1, like other Minardi drivers have done in the past.”
Minardi and Jordan are the only teams to still have driver vacancies for 2004. The Irish team is believed to be keen to confirm Nick Heidfeld for next year, but Britons Ralph Firman and Jaguar discard Justin Wilson will probably slug it out for the other seat.
Bruni has only managed to be a top five runner in the European championships he has contested. His best result was being crowned Formula Renault Eurocup champion in 1999. It seems veteran Jos Verstappen will be Minardi’s only hope next year.