Minardi PS03
![]() | |||||||||
Category | Formula One | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Constructor | Minardi | ||||||||
Designer(s) | Gabriele Tredozi | ||||||||
Predecessor | PS02 | ||||||||
Successor | PS04B | ||||||||
Technical specifications | |||||||||
Chassis | Carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque | ||||||||
Suspension (front) | Upper/lower composite-reinforced wishbones, pushrod-activated torsion springs, mechanical anti-roll bars | ||||||||
Suspension (rear) | Upper/lower composite-reinforced wishbones, pushrod-activated torsion rockers, mechanical anti-roll bars | ||||||||
Length | 4,548 mm (179 in) | ||||||||
Width | 1,800 mm (71 in) | ||||||||
Height | 950 mm (37 in) | ||||||||
Axle track | Front: 1,480 mm (58 in) Rear: 1,410 mm (56 in) | ||||||||
Wheelbase | 3,097 mm (122 in) | ||||||||
Engine | Cosworth CR-3 2,998 cc (183 cu in) V10 (72°) naturally aspirated mid-mounted | ||||||||
Transmission | Minardi 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential | ||||||||
Battery | Midac | ||||||||
Weight | 600 kg (1,323 lb) | ||||||||
Fuel | Elf | ||||||||
Lubricants | Elf, CPC | ||||||||
Brakes | Brembo 6-piston calipers, carbon discs and pads | ||||||||
Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza | ||||||||
Competition history | |||||||||
Notable entrants | European Minardi Cosworth | ||||||||
Notable drivers | 18. ![]() 18. ![]() 19. ![]() | ||||||||
Debut | 2003 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
Drivers' Championships | 0 |
The Minardi PS03 is a Formula One car used by the Minardi team during the 2003 Formula One season.
The PS03 was the third Minardi car to be created under the influence of Paul Stoddart and he wanted it to be a regular point scorer. Justin Wilson and Jos Verstappen were the drivers, with Nicolas Kiesa as the test driver. The highlight of the season for the team was Verstappen's fastest time on Friday at Magny Cours, however this was only because it rained. Surprisingly, even though the team had many retirements; Wilson only finishing 2 of his first 8 races, the Cosworth engines were reliable, they never caused the driver to retire. What caused Wilson to retire these 6 times was; 3 holed radiators, physical issues and a recurring refuelling glitch. The end result was last in the Constructors' Championship with no points.
One of the main problems Minardi always had with the car was the lack of wind-tunnel testing, only managing 12 days in the Fondmetal windtunnel.
Pre-season issues
At first the team appeared to have no sponsors, engines or tyres. Michelin had pulled out of the team leaving Minardi to run some pre-season tests on Avon tyres. Asiatech engines were gone, as was the previous year's sponsorship from Kuala Lumpur due to Alex Yoong's departure to Champ Car. This left Minardi in some serious problems. Eventually Bridgestone agreed to make the tyres, and with the help of new driver Jos Verstappen they managed to get sponsorship from Trust. European Aviation, (Stoddart's own company) put up sponsorship as did various other small companies for small sums of money, including Gazprom, who reportedly did not pay.[citation needed] After snubbing a Ferrari engine deal,[citation needed] Minardi also managed to get Cosworth engines, old 72 degree V10's, un-tuned and similar to those being used in the Jordan of that season but these were slightly longer. There was initially no title sponsor until the Dutch company Trust joined the team for the 2003 Monaco Grand Prix and thus competing the Juventus-inspired white and black livery.
Complete Formula One results
(key)
Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Points | WCC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | European Minardi Cosworth | Cosworth V10 | B | AUS | MAL | BRA | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | EUR | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | ITA | USA | JPN | 0 | 10th | |
Justin Wilson | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 13 | 14 | 16 | |||||||||||
Nicolas Kiesa | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||
Jos Verstappen | 11 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 14 | 16 | 15 | Ret | 12 | Ret | 10 | 15 |
References
- Henry, Alan (ed.) (2003). AUTOCOURSE 2003-2004. Hazleton Publishing Ltd. pp. 80–81. ISBN 1-903135-20-6.
{{cite book}}
:|first=
has generic name (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help)