Minardi PS01 (also know European Minardi PS01) from Fernando Alonso museum. Made in Italy in 2001, 600 kg, V10. 17 races: 0 victories.
The Minardi PS01 (unofficially known as European Minardi PS01) was the car with which the Minardi team competed in the 2001 Formula One season. It was initially driven by Tarso Marques, who returned to the team after last driving an F1 car in 1997, and Fernando Alonso, a rookie who had graduated from Formula 3000 and was in a long-term contract to Flavio Briatore’s driver management scheme.
The PS01 marked a new beginning for Minardi. The chassis designation referred to the fact that it was the first car to be raced under the ownership of Paul Stoddart, who had bought the team from the terminally-ill Gabriele Rumi only two months before the first race of the season. In between, the PS01 was hurriedly built, with Marques’ car still being assembled at the Australian GP. The car was a tidy, efficient design by Gustav Brunner, but it was hamstrung by a lack of testing and horsepower from an elderly engine (which was badged “European”, after Stoddart’s aviation company).
Despite this lack of preparation, the cars were surprisingly competitive, with Marques only failing to qualify once and future champion Alonso able to compete in the lower reaches of the midfield. However, the team scored no points and were hit hard when Brunner defected to the fledgling Toyota F1 team mid-season. As the season drew to a close, the frustrated Marques agreed to leave the team, allowing the well-funded Alex Yoong to become Malaysia’s first F1 driver.
The team also raced an updated car, featuring a revised rear end and gearbox, from the Belgian GP onwards. This chassis was designated as the Minardi PS01B. Marques first used the B-spec version already in the Hungarian GP.
The team were unclassified in the Constructors’ Championship, with no points.
Chassis: Carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front): pullrod-activated torsion springs, carbon-wrapped titanium wishbones
Suspension (rear): pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers, carbon-wrapped titanium wishbones
Length: 4,509 mm (178 in)
Width: 1,800 mm (71 in)
Axle track front: 1,480 mm (58 in). Back: 1,410 mm (56 in)
Engine: Ford VJ Zetec-R (badged as European) 3.0 L (183 cu in) V10 (72°) naturally-aspirated mid-engined
Transmission: Minardi six-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Power: 735 hp @ 16,000 rpm
Weight: 600 kg (1,322.8 lb) (including driver and camera)
Fuel: Elf
Lubricants: Elf
Brakes: Brembo
Tyres: Michelin
OZ forged magnesium front: (13.0 x 12.0) rear: (13.0 x 13.7)
