Formula One fans in the Netherlands can celebrate a little earlier than normal this festive season with the announcement today that Christijan Albers is to drive for the Minardi Cosworth team in 2005. The identity of the first of Minardi's two race drivers for the new season was announced this morning to a packed press conference at the prestigious Bilderberg Garden Hotel in Amsterdam.

Albers, who is now an established star in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), is also well known to Minardi personnel, both as a regular driver of the team's exciting two-seater F1 cars and as a former member of the European Formula Racing F3000 team, owned at the time by Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. More recently, Albers took part in the Faenza squad's Misano test last month, driving a 2004-specification Minardi Cosworth PS04B. He impressed team members by setting the fastest time of the week-long session in just 20 laps.

Albers' move to Formula One in 2005 has been made possible by the support of a number of enthusiastic commercial backers, who will be revealed at a special, pre-season F1 launch party to be held on January 27th, at a secret location in Amsterdam. Leading investor is Lost Boys and Media Republic founder Michiel Mol, who comments: "This is my Christmas present to all Dutch F1 fans."

Aside from the sponsors, the Essentially Group and John Byfield have fulfilled an important consultancy role to both the driver and his backers, as has GR8 Industries, Albers' official management company for the past four years, which is run by Lodewijk Varossieau. In addition, ABN AMRO Corporate Finance acted as financial adviser during negotiations with the team.

"We are very pleased to be able to announce Christijan as one of our two race drivers for 2005," comments Minardi Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "He has always been a naturally quick driver, but it is clear there is now an added maturity and focus with that speed. In short, we believe he is absolutely ready for Formula One, and we fully expect him to surprise a few people this coming season, particularly since Minardi also has ambitious plans. From a personal point of view, it is very gratifying to see a number of Dutch companies getting behind a talented young driver in order to help him take that final, and most difficult, step to the highest level of motor racing. Knowing Christijan as I do, I'm certain he will reward the faith placed in him."