Tarso Marques made his Formula1 debut with the Minardi team in 1996, and competed in twelve races for the Faenza based outfit during the course of the 1996 and 1997 seasons.

Prior to this he spent time karting in Brazil and then in the traditional Formula1 training grounds of Formula 3 and Formula 3000, taking the Brazilian and South American Formula 3 championships along the way.

Without the prospect of another Formula1 drive, the young Brazilian crossed the Atlantic to continue learning his trade in the CART series. He competed in six races for Team Penske in 1999 before racing for the majority of the season in a Swift in 2000.

His return to Formula1 will allow the 25-year-old to continue progressing through the motorsport ranks, and his experience at Minardi already is expected to help his rookie partner, Fernando Alonso.