Jarno Trulli got the second, and last Formula One seat, at the Minardi-Hart team. The 22 year old Italian was very happy: " I'm delighted to be given this opportunity. I wish to thank a lot of people, mainly Flavio Briatore and Benetton Team that gave me a lot of credit from the beginning and Giancarlo Minardi and Gabriele Rumi that actually bet on myself for the future. Also the fact that Minardi is an Italian outfit and sports a solid tradition in motor sport will be an additional thrust to do my best at all times."

Minardi explained his reasons: "We opted for Jarno. He won the very competitive German Formula 3 Championship, did extremely well when he tested the Benetton last October at Estoril, he 's part of the family and Flavio had no objection to let him drive for us. I am very proud that another young gun will make his debut on a Minardi. The Brazilian driver Tarso Marques will stay with the team as a team reserve driver and will attend all races of the Championship ready to go in case of need."

Martin Brundle will be starting in a Nissan GT for the 24 hours of Le Mans, the race Brundle won in 1990 in a Jaguar. Brundle missed out on the second seat at Jordan-Peugeot which went out to Giancarlo Fisichella last week, but the Briton now will have a double job: he will also be a director for Arrows Grand Prix International. This double function was announced by Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw.

Brundle commented: "This is a great challenge and an opportunity for me to explore a management position while still actively involved in a driving programme."

Former Formula One World Champion Alain Prost will start negotiations with the Ligier team this week regarding the takeover. Prost demands that the Peugeot engines will be there for him in 1998. The Peugeot engines are now still used by the Jordan team but their contract with the engine manufacturer ends at the end of 1997. If he gets the deal with Peugeot the name of the team will be changed from Ligier to Prost Racing.

Prost can count on the support of the French president, who will do what he can to make sure the companies needed to set the whole thing up will give their full support.

News provided to you by: Carlos Lefebre Franco from the Netherlands