 | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Minardi | ||||||||
| Designers | Gabriele Tredozi(Technical Director) Andrew Tilley(Deputy Technical Director) George Ryton(Chief Designer) Loïc Bigois(Chief Aerodynamicist) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | PS01 | ||||||||
| Successor | PS03 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fibremonocoque | ||||||||
| Engine | AsiatechAT02 3.0-litreV10 (72°)naturally-aspiratedmid-engined | ||||||||
| Transmission | Minardi 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential | ||||||||
| Power | 800 hp @ 16,200 rpm | ||||||||
| Fuel | Elf | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | KLMinardiAsiatech | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 22. Alex Yoong22.  Anthony Davidson23.  Mark Webber | ||||||||
| Debut | 2002 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| Last event | 2002 Japanese Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
TheMinardi PS02 was the car with which theMinardi team competed in the2002 Formula One World Championship.
The PS02 was designed by technical director Gabriele Tredozi and chief aerodynamicistLoic Bigois, who had joined the team from the now defunctProst team.[1] The car was recognised as a significant step forward from thePS01, and the team utilised extensive wind tunnel testing inItaly and theUnited Kingdom. The car utilised the Minardi's unique titanium cased gearbox, and changed to a pushrod from pullrod suspension for the first time.[2] The PS02 featured the newAsiatech AT02 V10 engine which would be dropped for the 2003 season in favour ofCosworth.[3] The sidepod area design of the PS02 was quite similar to that of theArrows A23.
The PS02 was launched inKuala Lumpur,Malaysia in February 2002. Owing to support from the state tourism authority and lottery, Magnum.[4][5] The shakedown took place atImola Circuit, withAlex Yoong at the wheel.[6]
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The season started well for the team. New driverMark Webber scoring two points finishing fifth at the season openingAustralian Grand Prix. Ahead of the significantly higher fundedToyota team. This was Minardi's first points scoring car since 1999, whenMarc Gené scored one point at theEuropean Grand Prix.[7][8][9]
However, Australia was a highlight of an otherwise poor season for Minardi. The PS02 suffered from a total of 14 race retirements, of which 4 were related to the Asiatech V10.[10] Additionally, rookie Yoong failed to qualify the car on three separate occasions, falling foul of the107% rule.[11][12][13] This caused Minardi to replace him for two races withBritish American Racing test driver,Anthony Davidson. Ultimately, Davidson, would retire from both races.[14][15]
InSpain, neither car started the Grand Prix. A manufacturing error in the front wing caused Webber's to fail during qualifying, meanwhile team mate Yoong had an incident that caused a red flag. Whilst repairs were made overnight, including flying the wing between Catalunya and Faenza, ownerPaul Stoddart withdrew both cars from Sunday's Grand Prix.[16][17][18]
Minardi struggled for finance throughout the season. Before the season even began, owner Stoddart legally challenged the French court over a decision to sell Prost Grand Prix to fellow team owner Tom Walkinshaw, in order to protect his team's television rights money.[19] In August, British newspaperThe Daily Telegraph reported that Stoddart was due to sell the team to a consortium led by Irish businessman Brendan McGuinness and Saudi PrinceAl-Waleed bin Talal. However this did not materialise.[20] By the season close, Stoddart's businessEuropean Aviation who also sponsored the team in 2002, was on the verge of sale although it was not to fund the team.[21] Financial difficulties from 2002, followed the team into 2003 where Stoddart was suing three sponsors for non-payment and Yoong chased $200,000 in unpaid wages.[22][23]
Minardi finished the season 9th in the Constructors' Championship, equal on points with newly-richest Toyota works team and now defunctArrows Grand Prix.[24]
The PS02 kept the black colour scheme of its predecessor, with minor portions of red. The car featured sponsorship from theMalaysian government, displayingGo KL logos on the sidepods and engine covers.European Aviation andMagnum also remained as major sponsors.
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | KL Minardi Asiatech | Asiatech AT02V10 | M | AUS | MAL | BRA | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | EUR | GBR | FRA | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | USA | JPN | 2 | 9th | |
| Alex Yoong | 7 | Ret | 13 | DNQ | DNS | Ret | Ret | 14 | Ret | DNQ | 10 | DNQ | 13 | Ret | Ret | ||||||||
| Anthony Davidson | Ret | Ret | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Webber | 5 | Ret | 11 | 11 | DNS | 12 | 11 | 11 | 15 | Ret | 8 | Ret | 16 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 10 | ||||||
| Sources:[25][26] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
