Minardi strengthens aerodynamics team.

European Minardi F1 today announced the appointment of Loic Bigois as Head of Aerodynamics. The arrival of the highly regarded French engineer at European Minardi follows the team's strong showing in the first two Grands Prix of the 2001 season and coincides with the beginning of an intensive aerodynamic development programme aimed at unlocking the full potential of the team's PS01 chassis and laying the groundwork for its 2002 car.

Bigois will be based at European Minardi's Faenza factory, but will spend much of his time working in the nearby Fondmetal Technology wind tunnel, at Casumaro, run by Jean-Claude Migeot. The legendary Formula One aerodynamicist will provide his extensive knowledge and experience to assist the team and ensure that input from the impressive Casumaro facility is maximised.

"We're very pleased to have signed such an experienced Formula One engineer as Loic," says European Minardi Technical Director, Gustav Brunner. "We expect him to play a major role in helping to develop this year's car as well as to lay down the direction for the team's future aerodynamic programmes. It also says much for European Minardi and its prospects that a person of the calibre of Jean-Claude has agreed to assist us"

"We have said clearly that it is our intention to move the team steadily up the grid over the next few years, and it is people like Loic who will play a critical role in helping to make that happen. This is very good news indeed."

Loic Bigois - Career summary:

1981 - 1989 Microturbo Toulouse F (Gaz Turbine Co) - aerodynamics engineer
1990 - 1993 Ligier F1 - head of CAD/CAM Department, aerodynamics engineer
1994 Sauber - CAD/CAM engineer
1995 Ligier F1 - aerodynamics
1996 Ligier F1 - R & D Manager
1997 Prost GP - Deputy Technical Director
1998 Prost GP - Chief Designer
2000 Prost GP - Assistant Technical Director
2001 European Minardi F1 - Head of Aerodynamics