Formula One participant Minardi announced a partnership agreement with Gazprom on Friday in a three-year deal that could give Formula One its first Russian driver.

"This three-year agreement represents an excellent foundation on which to achieve the ambitious goal of bringing a Russian driver into Formula One as soon as possible," said Minardi owner Paul Stoddart.

A separate statement from Gazprom, which accounts for 94 percent of domestic gas production, said: "It will be a great responsibility for Gazprom to assist the first ever Russian driver to debut in the Formula One world championship."

No financial details of the deal were given.

(The Moscow Times 19.viii.02)