Montagny’s Minardi favorite

(GMM) Franck Montagny has emerged as a frontrunner to race the sister Minardi F1 car next year. Paul Stoddart's Anglo-Italian team announced last week that Dutch DTM speedster Christijan Albers had landed one seat. And, according to a media report of the Australian Associated Press (AAP), Renault-contracted test driver Montagny is 'in contact' with the Faenza-based straggler. ''(Minardi) has some financial requirements,'' the Frenchman was quoted as saying. ''If everything goes well, they will be able to choose which driver they want to hire.'' Franck tested a Minardi a while back and manager Gilles Bellec thinks he's 'ready' for the grid.