What a difference a year makes. Up-to-date engines, cars that are ready and tested, sponsorship in place and a clear aim: to get off the bottom rung of the ladder in 2002. The reign of Paul Stoddart at Minardi breathes fresh air into the Italian team, and everyone is glad of it.

What's more, Minardi have tested before the start of the season! They've even tested the new car! Two of them! OK. Sorry about the sarcasm but we're not quite used to this. Sponsorship is in place, the drivers announced and for the second year running Minardi isn't the last team in the pit lane. Things are definitely looking up with Paul Stoddart's new regime.

This time last year, they were in a rush to get to Melbourne at all. A year later there's new organisation and new aims. Paul Stoddart has a strategy - and it's more than just survive!

"I've got a five year plan," he said last year. "It's to compete professionally in 2001, to get it off the bottom in 2002, the third year I want to get it into a position where we're actually able to compete and get points and perhaps get a podium with a bit of luck." After that, he just wants to stay there!

The team is still split between Faenza and Ledbury, but there's been considerable expansion in both during the past year, as Stoddart increases his structure. Much of the actual production of the cars has been brought in-house which enables designers and engineers to have greater control and flexibility. And never forget: Minardi has pioneered the titanium gearbox casing, copied this year by Ferrari.

For the first time for many seasons, Minardi also have a state-of-the-art engine which doesn't cost them money. The Asiatech engine may not have performed exceptionally in the Arrows in 2001, but that wasn't entirely the engine's fault. In 2002, there will be changes to what was originally the Peugeot V10. "This year, there is a different bore, different stroke, completely new crank and cam," explained Enrique Scalabroni, Asiatech's chief in Europe. "This year's engine is a new project, even though it is an intermediate year. It will be different again in 2003."

This is a great opportunity for Minardi, and originally, Stoddart's plans revolved around getting an experienced driver to help sort out the car. But Minardi have a special reputation for 1) bringing on young drivers - Giancarlo was always proud of this, and 2) for working with young Spaniards. Last year, Stoddart and Minardi were honoured by the Spanish Federation for their help with such drivers as Fernando Alonso.

While Stoddart was interested in Frentzen and Verstappen, his relationship with Malaysia had built up via Alex Yoong, and although he maintained at the end of last year that he hadn't received a penny from the Malaysian government, it was clear that the relationship was fruitful. Perhaps he had an eye on Ferrari engines that Petronas so kindly buy for Sauber.

Not surprisingly, then, he plumped to hang on to Alex Yoong, and it was no surprise when Stoddart's compatriot Mark Webber was named as his partner. So that neatly ties up the South-east Asia and Australia then! Mark had certainly earned his spurs with his Formula 3000 and Benetton testing performances - so what more could you ask for? He knows the circuit, has F1 experience - just lacks a little Formula One racing miles, but he'll pick that up. What's more, he's an allround good bloke which helps heaps!

His appointment came after Minardi had been out on the circuit testing new drivers. Using interim chassis, Minardi were testing on January 15 with Yoong and four hopefuls - one of which was Webber. Immediately he was quicker than the rest, and later, quicker than Yoong as well.

The new car first appeared at the team's local circuit of Imola on February 1 when Yoong did 20 laps, and the PS02 was taken to Valencia on February 5 and was instantly quicker than the older car driven by Yoong. When the Malaysian took over the newer car, he was quicker than Webber who found the older car uncomfortable, but the pair were some way at the back of the field.

Reappearing at Barcelona, they managed a race simulation although there were some minor problems. Webber was quicker than Fisichella on the 13th! But already, Minardi have won a race in 2002; they haven't been this well prepared for years! The cars get shipped on February 21st, stopping off for the official launch in Kuala Lumpur on the way to Australia where they will no doubt be afforded a hero's welcome. They deserve it.

Bob Constanduros