Albers close to Minardi deal

Christijan Albers is reportedly close to signing a deal with Minardi and the Dutchman's manager is confident that the details can be sorted out. Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart confirmed in December that Albers was in the running for the race seat alongside Justin Wilson, although Albers' compatriot Jos Verstappen was also in the frame. Stoddart made no secret of the fact that a driver would be required to bring significant sponsorship to the deal and Albers is reportedly needing to find ?2million.

Christijan Albers.

Photo by Nikki Reynolds.

Wilson, who was signed by Minardi last month, raised his finances by selling shares in his future -- Albers was thought to have been given a deadline of New Year's Eve by Stoddart but it seems the deal is still on: "We are getting closer now. It's just about the details now and it seems we can work this out," Lodewijk Varossieau, Albers' manager, told RTL.

Verstappen's interest in the Minardi seat appears to have waned as he reportedly sets his sights on Jordan instead. "If it doesn't work out for us," Varossieau added, "all doors are opened for Jos but obviously he still has another option, because he doesn't really seem to fight (for Minardi)."

Verstappen sat out the 2002 Formula One season after losing his seat at Arrows to Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Arrows ceased racing late in the year and has since appointed receivers to sort out its troubled financial situation: Verstappen and Frentzen are both seeking damages.

Albers drove for Mercedes in the DTM last season, finishing twelfth in the championship. He has test driven for Minardi in the past and also has been behind the wheel of the team's two-seater car. Before joining the DTM in 2001, Albers raced in F3000 in 2000 for the European Arrows junior team, alongside Mark Webber who left Minardi at the end of 2002 to join Jaguar.