Stoddart is deperate and must be collecting a large amount of money from this guy. More history in the making..... "Minardi have signed Israeli Chanoch Nissany as an official test driver for the 2005 season" "The Budapest resident is 41 years old and, instead of cutting his teeth pounding around karting tracks, only took up motorsport competitively three years ago." "... he has impressed us with his enthusiasm, his willingness to learn and his fitness" http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=32004 It's no surprise that anyone with enough money can land a test position but this guy is 41 and with no experience !
Wow! But then again the question is: What's there to test really? Minardi isn't really known for its modifications throughout the season. I think this is a rich lad who gets to drive the Minardi in private and for that he pays. Probably the only instruction he gets from Stoddart is: You break it, you buy it!
I think its cool. You only go around once and if you've got the bucks why not?, its not as if he's inventing the rent-a-ride concept.
It's good politics look at it as outsourcing- Ya never know what this guy might bring to the table. At 41 you're not dead.... Only in Amreica is a 30 year old "over the hill...."
For a second there i thought this thread was about myself If i recall Minardi is not know for doing a lot of testing to begin with so what is there to brag about being an Minardi tester.
Minardi runs frequently their fleet of two seaters and for sure get a return on it. I think it's great if Stoddart rents out his cars and gets additional income for the team. However, it sounds like a joke when Minardi "signs" a test driver when it's actually a guy paying to do laps in private practices.
Doesn't Nissany need a super license issued from the FIA before he can test drive F1 cars? Can someone with a racing background explain to me who in their right mind gave a super license to a 41 year old with 3 years of experience?!?! So if Minardi choose to run 3 cars in Practise sessions? This 41 year old with only 3 years of experience will be in a car that he may not be able to control at the same time when Michael and Rubens are on the track. Minardi better have some serious insurance on this guy! Not one week goes by when I don't hope that Minardi absolutely go to hell and Stoddart quits F1.
I'm happy to see Minardi survive. However you do have a point about testing etc. I'm not sure on this, but I think you need a super license to participate in the Friday testing session as well as in other "official" testing sessions during the year where more than one team is present. And I would think this guy does not qualify for a super license and hence can't participate in these sessions. In reality all this is just an academic exercise: When was it the last time the Minardi team actually participated in a testing session? What would they be testing anyway, confirmation that they're still the slowest team? And did they ever use a third car on Friday mornings? I doubt it. I truly believe this guy is a paying for joy rides (nothing wrong with that) and has a too glamorous a title. Probably helps his own ego as well as Stoddart who now has a "test driver". Andreas, former test driver for AGS F1
Despite their money woes, you have to admire the spirit of just wanting to be part of F1. It is obvious Paul is not billionare type money, ( just look at the state of the world's airlines. ) I think their points scoring with Weber in in his home country was an awesome moment for F1. If any of us car crazy people had the money and the means, we would be involved too. Even if the odds are so drastic, there still might be a chance at a podium at Monza, a great overtaking move at Spa, a wheel to wheel battle for dozens of laps at Monaco. Even with the most terrible odds, the chance that their might be a slight positive might seem like it's worth it. What is the alternative, only manufacturers? I think the private entry is a neat throw back to older days where one had to scrounge and sell any old junk just to get the quid for washers for the cars. Besides, I would hate to see Toyota and a Williams battling for position in last place. Minardi falls into that role so often that when they break out of it, ( Jordan too, ) it seems like a neat little miracle. I would agree with anyone that they seem to like being in a pimp/whore relationship with rental drivers with lots of cash. However, in some occasions they find a diamond in the rough, ( Trulli, Alonso, Weber, ) and make some promising drives. For someone who has to fight for every inch the millimeters that they gain seem pretty fun. RocketBoy
