Minardi launched its Formula 1 challenger for the 2000 season. The Italian team launched its competitor, to be driven by drivers Marc Gene and Gaston Mazzacane in Bilboa, Spain. Telefonica is confirmed as title sponsor, but major shareholder Gabriele Rumi denied the team was about to be sold to the Spanish telecoms giant. Team owner Giancarlo Minardi said at Wednesday’s launch: “We will carry on negotiating because we have to marry Telefonica or someone else, maybe a carmaker. “That is the only way that we can guarantee a secure future for the team.”