The Minardi M188 was a Formula One car designed by Giacomo Caliri and Aldo Costa for use by the Minardi team in the 1988 Formula One World Championship and, when updated as the M188B, in the first three races of the Championship. The car was driven by Spaniards Adrián Campos and Luis Pérez-Sala, and Italian Pierluigi Martini.
Overview In 1988, ahead of the ban in turbo engines for the 1989 season, Minardi changed their engine from the Motori Moderni V6 turbo to the normally aspirated Cosworth DFZ. In early 1989, the team briefly tested the Carlo Chiti-designed boxer 12-cylinder Subaru 1235 engine in a modified M188 but it was rejected due to low power and excessive weight.
Driver Adrian Campos was dismissed after the fifth round of the season due to poor performance and he was replaced by Pierluigi Martini, who previously raced for the team in 1985 and then moved down to International Formula 3000 in 1986. Martini scored the one and only point for Minardi in his first race in Detroit, taking 6th place. The team finished 10th in the constructor's championship.
An upgraded version of the car, dubbed the M188B was used for the first three races of the 1989 season.
Livery The M188 retained its black and yellow colour scheme from previous years. Spanish jeans company Lois was the title sponsor for the year.
Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Team Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC Lois Minardi Team SpA Minardi M188 Ford DFZ 3.5 V8 BRASMRMONMEXCANDETFRAGBRGERHUNBELITAPORESPJPNAUS110th Adrián CamposRet16DNQDNQDNQ Pierluigi Martini61515DNQRetDNQRetRetRet137 Luis Pérez-SalaRet11Ret1113RetNCRetDNQ10DNQRet81215Ret Minardi Team SpA Minardi M188B Ford DFZ 3.5 V8 BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS6*11th Pierluigi Martini Ret Ret Ret Luis Perez-Sala Ret Ret Ret
* All points scored using the Minardi M189
References