Stoddart sets Melbourne goal

Stoddart sets Melbourne goal

Wilson (left) with team boss Paul Stoddart

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart is aiming for a top 10 finish in the opening Grand Prix of the Formula One season in Melbourne.

But the Australian tycoon admitted the team will be unlikely to match last year's memories of a surprise fifth place for debutant Mark Webber.

The Australian earned Minardi two points after a series of early crashes that took out almost half the grid.

Stoddart, though, insisted his team would be keeping their feet firmly on the ground ahead of the 9 March race.

"I think it will be impossible to beat 2002," said Stoddart.

This year we just hope that we have a very credible race

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart

"I think we used up all our favours from above last year.

"That Sunday was the proudest moment of my life. I think it would take a serious amount of topping as everything came right for us.

"It was something you couldn't write the script for, it was a fairytale come true.

"This year we just hope that we have a very credible race and hopefully we can get one or two cars in the top 10."

Despite their strong start, Minardi failed to win any further points last season and finished ninth in the constructors' championship.

But they have a new driver line-up of British rookie Justin Wilson and experienced Dutchman Jos Verstappen.

And Stoddart is hopeful that new Cosworth engines will help to maintain the progress the team have made since he stepped in two years ago.

We're still on target to try and establish ourselves as a regular midfield team

Paul Stoddart

"We're into year three of a five-year plan and so far, against all the odds, we have actually achieved our goals, so hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel," said Stoddart.

"Year one was to compete with professionalism and dignity, which we did. Year two was to get off the bottom and score a few points. We did that.

"Despite all the politics, despite all the rumours about funding or lack of funding, and all the terrible side of the sport that we've had to endure, we're still here, we're still fighting.

"We're still on target for year three which is to try and establish ourselves as a regular midfield team.

"Hopefully with the power of the Ford engine, we should be able to do that."