Albers in for Minardi Valencia test.
The Minardi Formula One team today confirms that Christijan Albers will join the squad for its first test of 2002, in Valencia, Spain, commencing on Tuesday, January 15.
The 22-year-old Dutchman will join Alex Yoong, as well as several other drivers, in the course of the four-day programme, as the team prepares to embark on an extensive pre-season test schedule.
The Minardi Formula One team today confirms that Christijan Albers will join the squad for its first test of 2002, in Valencia, Spain, commencing on Tuesday, January 15.
The 22-year-old Dutchman will join Alex Yoong, as well as several other drivers, in the course of the four-day programme, as the team prepares to embark on an extensive pre-season test schedule.
Albers' task in Valencia will be to carry out durability testing at the wheel of an interim Minardi PS01B chassis while assisting the team's engineers to check some of the components that will be fitted to the new PS02, due to run for the first time in the next four weeks.
Albers comes with impressive credentials, having won the German Formula Three Championship in 1999, followed by a successful season of competition in the FIA International F3000 Championship with European Formula Racing in 2000.
An official test driver for European Minardi F1 last year, he also competed as a "rookie" in the 2001 DTM (German Touring Car Championship), continuing to demonstrate his undoubted talent by propelling a year-old Mercedes to three top-10 results in the bruising saloon car racing series, including a fine second-place finish.
"Christijan is someone who is close to our team, and we continue to rate him highly," observes Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "Now that our pre-season testing programme is set to get under way in earnest, we thought it was an ideal opportunity to have another look at him while he helps us get through our scheduled workload, which is considerable. It's also useful that Christijan knows the team, the engineers, and our way of working, as he has tested for us before."
Albers added: "I am obviously very pleased to be asked to test again for Minardi. I know the team has made significant progress over the last year, and the new car should be a big step forward. I am really looking forward to helping with the test programme and am excited at the prospect of experiencing the performance of a Formula One car again."
