Italy's Bruni wins vacant seat at Minardi

Italian Gianmaria Bruni will race for Minardi next year, the Formula One team announced

Italian Gianmaria Bruni will race for Minardi next year, the Formula One team announced. The 22-year-old Roman tested with struggling Minardi, the only team to fail to score a point this year, during the second half of the championship.

"We've obviously had the benefit of observing 'Gimmi' at close quarters because of his testing role with Minardi and we're extremely pleased to have been able to sign him as a race driver for the 2004 season," said team boss Paul Stoddart.

"We've chosen him because we think he has a fantastic natural ability behind the wheel in a race car and is a fitting successor to previous European Minardi drivers, such as Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Justin Wilson."

Bruni's signing means Italy will have three Formula One drivers next year, with Giancarlo Fisichella at Sauber and Jarno Trulli at Renault.

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All three will have started out with Faenza-based Minardi. Minardi, who had Dutchman Jos Verstappen and Denmark's Nicolas Kiesa in their line-up at the end of the season, have yet to announce a second driver although Stoddart has made overtures towards Verstappen.

Minardi and Jordan, who have options on Germany's Nick Heidfeld and Ralph Firman, are the only teams with driver vacancies for next year.