2009 testing loophole for ‘young drivers’

Tue, 20 January 2009, 10:00

Jan.20 (GMM) Former F1 team owner and boss Gian Carlo Minardi says the sport’s growing trend for less and less track testing is bad news for young hopefuls eyeing a future on the grid

The recent limitations on testing, and the new total ban on in-season running, is “very bad” for young drivers who use testing opportunities as a means to impress F1 chiefs, he told minardi.it

“We are going to encounter a black period for them because they will not have a way to demonstrate their potential at the wheel of a formula one car,” Minardi said

“In my opinion this is not the best way forward to limit the costs, which can be lowered in many other areas

“It is important to leave open a window for the rookies,” said Minardi

Close inspection of the new 2009 rules, however, indicates that such a window has indeed been left open for “young driver training”

The 2009 sporting regulations say young drivers who have not contested a grand prix in the last two years “nor tested a formula one car on more than four days in the same 24 month period” are excluded from the in-season testing ban

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