Minardi M197


The Minardi M197 was the car with which the Minardi Formula One team competed in the 1997 Formula One season. It was initially driven by Ukyo Katayama, who moved from Tyrrell, and Jarno Trulli, the reigning German Formula Three champion. However, Trulli moved to Prost Grand Prix following Olivier Panis' serious accident in Montréal, and the team would select part-time driver Tarso Marques to take over his vacated seat.
The year saw investment from Fondmetal, ensuring the team's budget. The car was a neat chassis but had an underpowered V8 engine from Brian Hart, which left the team at the bottom of the grid, although the newly acquired Bridgestone tyres did allow them to occasionally challenge Tyrrell. Minardi also had the satisfaction of comfortably beating debutants MasterCard Lola, despite the British team's experience in motor racing.
The team were unclassified in the Constructors' Championship, with no points.

Complete Formula One results

YearTeamEngineTyresDrivers1234567891011121314151617PointsWCC
MinardiHart V8AUSBRAARGSMRMONESPCANFRAGBRGERHUNBELITAAUTLUXJPNEUR0NC
MinardiHart V8Jarno Trulli9129DNSRet15Ret0NC
MinardiHart V8Tarso MarquesRet10Ret12Ret14EXRetRet150NC
MinardiHart V8Ukyo KatayamaRet18Ret1110RetRet11RetRet1014Ret11RetRet170NC