MARCH 25, 1996
Marques joins Minardi
Marques - who is a prot?g? of Minardi team manager Frederic Dhainaut - tested for the Minardi team at Fiorano in December and impressed team boss Giancarlo Minardi with his speed. He was passed over for the drive this year because Inoue promised to bring more money to the team.
Marques's deal is for just the two South American races, but if Inoue fails to come up with the finance necessary it is quite likely that the young Brazilian could be kept on for the rest of the year.
If he qualifies, Marques will be the youngest man to race in F1 since Mike Thackwell drove a Tyrrell in Canada in 1980.