DECEMBER 8, 2001

Minardi gets more Malaysian cash

PAUL STODDART has spent the last couple of days in Malaysia and had a brief but successful meeting with the Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. After the meeting the owner of the Minardi team was able to confirm that Alex Yoong will be one of the team's drivers in 2002 and that the team will be known next year as KL Minardi Asiatech. The KL refers to the city of Kuala Lumpur although it is not currently clear where the money for the title sponsorship is coming from. It may be funding from the city's tourist authority which is keen to use F1 to attract more business. The team will launch its 2002 bid in Kuala Lumpur in January.

Stoddart also confirmed that as part of the deal with Malaysia the team will help the Malaysians develop new racing talent in the course of the next four years.