Albers announces plans tomorrow

Selespeed

According to f1racing Albers will reveal tomorrow something what we all new before: he will join Midland for two years. Or will he join the second Honda team...

[Edited on 31/10/2005 by Selespeed]

Minardus

Grandprix.com doesn't really believe it's Midland :

On Tuesday Christijan Albers is due to make an announcement in Holland and there is speculation that this is to be a two-year deal with the Midland F1 team to race for the team for the next two seasons. This does not sound very likely unless Albers has found a considerable amount of money or Midland has decided that it can manage without pay-drivers next year. Either is possible.

The price for a Midland drive was rumoured a few weeks ago to be around $10m and with Tiago Monteiro having a decent sum from his various Portuguese backers, he was thought certain for one of the seats. Albers on the other hand did not seem to have enough money to commit himself to such a deal. If, however, he has found the cash or someone willing to guarantee the money, the drive could well be his.

Biker

Confirmed on his website:

The Midland Group is delighted to announce today the signing of Christijan Albers as one
of its race drivers for the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship. Midland will relaunch
the team formerly known as Jordan Grand Prix under its own banner on 15
November 2005. Albers will conduct his first test with the team on 7 December 2005 at
Jerez, Spain.

Following a successful career in various Championships and a promising rookie season
in Formula One with the Minardi F1 Team in 2005, Albers is the first driver to sign a race
contract with Midland for 2006.

Colin Kolles, Managing Director of Jordan Grand Prix, stated: "I have known Christijan
since 1999, when he was driving successfully in Formula 3 in Germany, winning six races
and starting 10 times from pole. Since then, I have followed his motorsport career with
keen interest. He is very competitive, professional and a proven race winner. I am
confident he will acclimatise himself to our team very quickly and help us with the car's
development throughout the season."

Christijan Albers commented: "I am really happy to be taking the next step in my F1
career with the Midland team. I appreciate all I have learned with Minardi this season, and
look on this move as a step forward. It is by far the most challenging option for the future.
I know the team a little bit already, as I tested with them in December 2004; and I have
known Colin since 1999, when I had a very successful F3 season in Germany. I am
impressed by the way the team, along with partners Bridgestone and Toyota, are
developing the new car. I am really looking forward to the first test at Jerez on 7
December in the team's cool new colours and will do my very best to help the team move
forward on the grid. I should like to thank Mr. Shnaider and Mr. Kolles for their confidence
in me as a race driver. My thanks also to my sponsors for their renewed support: the
investors represented by Peter-Jan Rubingh; my management and marketing agency
GR8 Industries.com; Essentially Group who deal with final negotiations and legal affairs;
and ABN AMRO Bank; all of whom are have done a great job. Last but not least, I'd also
like to thank my fantastic group of fans, who support me day and night."

MinardiP1

Congrats to Christijan.

:)