Minardi cashes in on SMP link.
Apparently unbowed after its difficult start to the 2005 Formula One season, Minardi has revealed that it has renewed its links with Russia's SMP Commercial Bank for another year.
The bank, a member of the Moscow-based Russian Bank Association, first came into contact with Paul Stoddart's team when Minardi signed Russian hopeful Sergey Zlobin as its test and development driver for 2004. Although the sometime F3000 and sportscar driver has since been overlooked in favour of Israeli Chanoch Nissany, SMP had little hesitation in re-signing with the team for 2005.
Apparently unbowed after its difficult start to the 2005 Formula One season, Minardi has revealed that it has renewed its links with Russia's SMP Commercial Bank for another year.
The bank, a member of the Moscow-based Russian Bank Association, first came into contact with Paul Stoddart's team when Minardi signed Russian hopeful Sergey Zlobin as its test and development driver for 2004. Although the sometime F3000 and sportscar driver has since been overlooked in favour of Israeli Chanoch Nissany, SMP had little hesitation in re-signing with the team for 2005.
"We are very pleased to welcome SMP Bank back to the Minardi 'family' for another season," commented team director Gian Carlo Minardi, "It has been a strong supporter of the team in recent years, and this represents a significant marketing development, as it is hoped that the collaboration will lead to the opening of new, and important, markets for Minardi."
SMP joins a list of partners swollen by the addition of Dutch and Austrian companies courtesy of 2005 driver pairing Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher.
