Minardi M198

**Minardi M198**
	Shinji Nakano at the 1998 Spanish Grand Prix
Constructor:	Minardi
Designer:	Gabriele Tredozi (technical director) ; Mauro Gennari (designer) ; Mariano Alperin (aerodynamics)
Predecessor:	Minardi M197
Successor:	Minardi M01
Technical specifications
Chassis:	Honeycomb sandwich -Monocoque from CFK
Engine:	Ford JD Zetec-R 2,994 cm³, 72 ° V10 naturally aspirated engine
Front suspension:	Double wishbone axle with stabilizer , internal coil springs and integrated shock absorbers , operated via push rods
Rear suspension:	Double wishbone axle with stabilizer , internal coil springs and integrated shock absorbers , operated via push rods
Wheelbase:	2950 mm
Weight:	0600 kg
Tires:	Bridgestone
Petrol:	Eleven
statistics
Driver:	22. Shinji Nakano 23. Esteban Tuero ;
First start:	1998 Australian Grand Prix
Last start:	1998 Japanese Grand Prix
World Cup points:	-
Podiums:	-
Leadership laps:	-
	Status: end of season 1998

The Minardi M198 was the Formula 1 race car of Minardi for the 1998 season , took part in all 16 races of the season.

Technology and development

The technical director for development was Gabriele Tredozi . He was responsible for Mauro Gennari for the construction and Mariano Alperin for the aerodynamic shape of the car. Gustav Brunner , who only joined the team later, fully concentrated on next year's model, the Minardi M01 . The engine was a Ford Zetec R 3.0 liter V10 naturally aspirated engine that developed around 710 hp at 15,000 rpm. It replaced the poorly performing Hart V8 engines from the previous year. The six-speed semi-automatic transmission came from its own production, Brembo supplied the disc brakes made of carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide ceramic . All wheels were individually suspended on a double wishbone axle with a stabilizer , internal coil springs and integrated shock absorbers , operated by push rods .

Racing history

The team was given a new structure before the start of the season, so around 30 new employees were hired in addition to the 70 employees. In particular, development, aerodynamics and the team responsible for component and vehicle tests have been expanded. The best-known new signings were Gustav Brunner , who switched from Minardi to Ferrari in 1993 and came back, and the lawyer Michel Adreani , who, as sports director, was supposed to ensure good relations between the team and the FIA and those responsible for Formula 1. At the end of April, George Ryton was also recruited as a designer from Prost for the Minardi M01 . Gabriele Rumi , main owner of Minardi and boss of Fondmetal , also considered moving the Minardi factory from Faenza to Casumaro because of the wind tunnel there.

The new Minardi M198 was tested for the first time by driver Esteban Tuero in Mugello in mid-January and was officially presented on February 23 at the Bologna Museum of Technology. But at the beginning of February there were difficulties with the issue of the super license for the 19-year-old Argentine, because he did not have enough experience with the FIA to be suitable as a driver for Formula 1. In mid-February it was decided that Tuero will receive the super license if he can prove around 2000 km of test drives with a Formula 1 car before the first day of training in Melbourne .

As in the two previous seasons, Minardi could not get any points in 1998, although the main owner Rumi had invested a lot of money in the team at the beginning of the season. They were eliminated seven times due to individual errors, five times due to defective engines and six times due to other technical defects. Closest to one point, you were seventh in Canada and two eighth in San Marino and Belgium .

Painting and sponsorship

The car was painted in gray and dark blue, with the blue extending over the side pods to the rear including the rear wing, and gray being the basic color on the nose, the cockpit and the airbox. This year, many different sponsors advertised with their company logo on the car, for example the inline skate company Roces was on the radiators next to the cockpit, Visa on the nose and the air deflectors behind it and Fondmetal on the rear wing. Other sponsors are Avex , Cimatron , Hewlett Packard and Telecom Argentina .

driver

The drivers were Shinji Nakano and Esteban Tuero ; Frenchman Laurent Redon was nominated as test driver . Last year's driver Ukyō Katayama ended his Formula 1 career at the end of the 1997 season, Jarno Trulli stayed with Prost as a regular driver and Tarso Marques only returned to Formula 1 at Minardi in 2001.

Results

driver	No.	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	16	Points	rank
Formula 1 World Championship 1998																		0	-.
Japan S. Nakano	22nd	DNF	DNF	13	DNF	14th	9	7th	17th	8th	11	DNF	15th	8th	DNF	15th	DNF
Argentina E. Tuero	23	DNF	DNF	DNF	8th	15th	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	16	DNF	DNF	11	DNF	DNF