Minardi has engaged the Japanese driver Shinji Nakano for the 1998 F1 season. The twenty-six year old Japanese driver will pair up with the Argentine Esteban Tuero. Nakano, who last year raced with Prost Grand Prix and competed in 17 GPs, will start preparing for the 1998 season next week, alternating with his team mate at the wheel of the M198 which the Team is sending to the Barcelona circuit for the testing that many teams have planned to conducted on this track.
"I believe that after the difficulties which are inevitable in any debut season in F1," stressed Gian Carlo Minardi. "Shinji might do exceedingly well this year. He is not a newcomer and has gained the experience needed to operate confidently within the Circus. We will do all we can to help him realise his potential. We know through experience that Japanese drivers give of their very best in terms of commitment and professionalism, and this is an excellent starting-point from which to achieve success. I won't deny that we expect a great deal from him".
Minardi continues to strengthen the team. An agreement has been reached with Michel Adreani of Monaco to act as sporting director on the racetrack. Adreani, formerly a Federation steward, will provide the drivers and the racing team with his thirty years' experience in the world of motor racing competitions. Among other things, he will handle relations with the racing authorities during the Grand Prix events. Michel Adreani was born in Nice on 10th November 1952; he gained a Ph.D. in law and it is worth mentioning that he was Chairman of the Monaco Automobile Club Technical Committee and member of the FIA working group for Formula 3, Formula 3000, Rally, Super Touring and GT.
Team Minardi is also delighted to announce the return of the engineer Gustav Brunner. In advance of finalising the Austrian engineer's actual modus operandi and terms of engagement, it is worth stressing that everyone in the Team greeted the news with great satisfaction. Knowing that they will soon be working with someone of Brunner's ability and experience (in the past he has worked with Ats, Zakspeed, March and Ferrari) has galvanised the whole Team.
"The drive to boost Minardi's resources," - as the team manager, Gabriele Rumi, pointed out, "proceeds apace, nor could it be otherwise in the F.1 of today. Moreover, all the big teams, despite their established structures and wealth of human resources, have shown clearly that constant enhancement is a necessary and vital strategy. One need only think of the outstanding engineers who (in the last two-three seasons alone) have moved from one team to another to realise the determination with which teams seek to secure the very best in the business. It is logical that Minardi, in its new order, should follow the strategies implemented by the top teams, since it is our stated objective to ensure rapid and ongoing enhancement".
The German paper Bild reported that Michael Schumachers voice has helped a man to wake up from a coma. The text: "Hello, Sandro, it's me -- Michael Schumacher from Ferrari. Please wake up. Please, dear Sandro, get better so I can visit you," was played over and over for a couple of weeks after which he did wake up.
Schumacher however didn't want to take the credit for it: "In general terms it helped the parents. It gave them a sense of hope during a difficult time, so it was a good thing."