Minardi, which other than the Friday GP test session has only had one day of timed private testing since the 2004 season got underway - Mugello 29th April - has revealed that Sergey Zlobin will carry out a number of testing duties for the remainder of the year.

The Moscow-based racer – the first Russian to drive a modern Formula One car – initially tested for Minardi in 2002, and made steady progress in the course of three sessions with the team, at the Fiorano, Valencia and Mugello circuits, covering 840 kms in total.

Zlobin will now embark on an intensive test schedule, commencing at the end of August and concluding in December. The programme is enthusiastically supported by successful Russian businessman, Alexy Zborovskiy, who has long harboured the desire to bring Formula One to his home country.

"We are very pleased to welcome Sergey back to Minardi in order that he can resume the testing programme he commenced with us in 2002," said team principal, Paul Stoddart. "Considering the ever-increasing interest in Formula One in the countries of eastern Europe, I think it’s very important that the sport should be working towards the ultimate goal of having a Russian driver in its ranks. Sergey is approaching his involvement in F1 very sensibly, and we will continue to do everything we can to assist him to progress his driving career to the highest possible level."