1999 Minardi VJM Ford engines

[F1GTRUeno]

Does anybody know/remember in 1999 when exactly Minardi moved from the VJM1 Cosworth unit to the VJM2?

If you look at most sources of information for the M01 they raced back in 1999 they just liist 'VJM1 & VJM2' so there doesn't seem to be anything online about when they changed or what changed between the variations.

Can't find any period articles about Minardi getting an upgrade during 1999.

Perhaps it's just the same engine anyway?

Any help would be appreciated. Perhaps PPBB might know but if anyone else does?

[Thundersports]

It's the same engine.

[350Matt]

From what I remember it was an upgrade to the spec so a bit more power , more reliable etc
still the same VJ though and they moved to the CK the year after

why do you ask

[F1GTRUeno]

350Matt said:

From what I remember it was an upgrade to the spec so a bit more power , more reliable etc
still the same VJ though and they moved to the CK the year after

why do you ask

Just for the purposes of accuracy on my sheet regarding the cars from 89-99.

I found from another source (a response on the Autosport forum) that the VJM2 debuted at Silverstone.

"halfway through the season, the VJM1 became the VJM2 with a small loss of weight and top-end modifications that gave it a power increase of about four per cent" - AUTOCOURSE 1999

AUTOSPORT July 15, 1999, British GP: "(Minardi) were happy with a new-spec engine from Cosworth" (p47)

Edited by F1GTRUeno on Tuesday 31st March 00:36

Edited by F1GTRUeno on Tuesday 31st March 00:36