Revision [161]
Last edited on 2009-11-27 17:52:02 by StanBAdditions:
At the start of 1988 it was clear that Minardi would not survive another season like 1987 as many sponsors had already left after the team's discouraging display of performance, mainly caused by the thirsty and very unreliable Motori Moderni engine. It was time for Minardi to start from scratch and a first step had already been made by parting with Motori Moderni. The team decided to go ahead with naturally aspirated Cosworth engines and a completely new chassis designed by Giacomo Caliri, the [[M188]]. In order to satisfy major sponsor Lois, Minardi hired a second Spaniard alongside [[CamposAdrian Adrian Campos]]: [[PerezSalaLuis Luis Perez-Sala]]. Perez Sala had done very well in F3000, coming in 2nd in the 1987 championships.
Being assured of good financial backing, the Minardi Team was able to do some solid R&D work and strengthen its technical staff by hiring Niki Lauda's former chief mechanic at Ferrari, Ermanno Cuoghi. The [[M188]] was not a revolutionary car but nevertheless a very solid package that was thoroughly needed after three disappointing seasons.
Unfortunately, [[CamposAdrian Adrian Campos]] had great difficulties, failing to qualify three times in five races while his team mate Sala managed to qualify as far up the grid as a 15th spot (at Monaco).
[[MinardiGianCarlo Gian Carlo Minardi]] was looking for a replacement and found it in [[MartiniPierluigi Pierluigi Martini]], who had already driven for the team in 1985. Martini was driving in F3000 and was under contractual obligations with the Leoni team. However a solution was found and Martini rewarded Minardi by scoring the team's first ever Championship Point at his first race at the USGP in Detroit by coming in sixth.
How competitive Minardi were in those days is made clear when we consider the fact that [[MartiniPierluigi Martini]] was just one lap behind Ayrton Senna's McLaren at the finish. The team's spirits were buoyed by this remarkable result but their race pace dropped rapidly as the season continued which led to Caliri's departure from [[Faenza]]. He was replaced by a team of young engineers ([[TredoziGabriele Gabriele Tredozi]], Tommaso Carletti and Vincenzo Emiliani) headed by Aldo Costa. The team's performance picked up again and they bagged more great results such as an 8th spot by Sala in Portugal and Martini was close to repeating his points scoring performance in Australia when he came in 7th.
Being assured of good financial backing, the Minardi Team was able to do some solid R&D work and strengthen its technical staff by hiring Niki Lauda's former chief mechanic at Ferrari, Ermanno Cuoghi. The [[M188]] was not a revolutionary car but nevertheless a very solid package that was thoroughly needed after three disappointing seasons.
Unfortunately, [[CamposAdrian Adrian Campos]] had great difficulties, failing to qualify three times in five races while his team mate Sala managed to qualify as far up the grid as a 15th spot (at Monaco).
[[MinardiGianCarlo Gian Carlo Minardi]] was looking for a replacement and found it in [[MartiniPierluigi Pierluigi Martini]], who had already driven for the team in 1985. Martini was driving in F3000 and was under contractual obligations with the Leoni team. However a solution was found and Martini rewarded Minardi by scoring the team's first ever Championship Point at his first race at the USGP in Detroit by coming in sixth.
How competitive Minardi were in those days is made clear when we consider the fact that [[MartiniPierluigi Martini]] was just one lap behind Ayrton Senna's McLaren at the finish. The team's spirits were buoyed by this remarkable result but their race pace dropped rapidly as the season continued which led to Caliri's departure from [[Faenza]]. He was replaced by a team of young engineers ([[TredoziGabriele Gabriele Tredozi]], Tommaso Carletti and Vincenzo Emiliani) headed by Aldo Costa. The team's performance picked up again and they bagged more great results such as an 8th spot by Sala in Portugal and Martini was close to repeating his points scoring performance in Australia when he came in 7th.
Deletions:
Being assured of good financial backing, the Minardi Team was able to do some solid R&D work and strengthen its technical staff by hiring Niki Lauda's former chief mechanic at Ferrari, Ermanno Cuoghi. The M188 was not a revolutionary car but nevertheless a very solid package that was thoroughly needed after three disappointing seasons.
Unfortunately, Adrian Campos had great difficulties, failing to qualify three times in five races while his team mate Sala managed to qualify as far up the grid as a 15th spot (at Monaco).
Gian Carlo Minardi was looking for a replacement and found it in Pierluigi Martini, who had already driven for the team in 1985. Martini was driving in F3000 and was under contractual obligations with the Leoni team. However a solution was found and Martini rewarded Minardi by scoring the team’s first ever Championship Point at his first race at the USGP in Detroit by coming in sixth.
How competitive Minardi were in those days is made clear when we consider the fact that Martini was just one lap behind Ayrton Senna's McLaren at the finish. The team's spirits were buoyed by this remarkable result but their race pace dropped rapidly as the season continued which led to Caliri's departure from Faenza. He was replaced by a team of young engineers (Gabriele Tredozi, Tommaso Carletti and Vincenzo Emiliani) headed by Aldo Costa. The team's performance picked up again and they bagged more great results such as an 8th spot by Sala in Portugal and Martini was close to repeating his points scoring performance in Australia when he came in 7th.
