SEPTEMBER 30, 2000

Webber increases chances of F1 drive with new sponsorship deal

AUSTRALIAN Mark Webber has increased his chances of earning a Formula One drive by signing a lucrative sponsorship deal with technology company Computershare.

Webber, who finished third in the Formula 3000 Championship this year for European Arrows, has been hoping to break into Formula One for two years.

He was signed as the official test driver for Arrows at the start of the season, but did not get to test this year's car after a contractual disagreement.

Webber has instead tested for Benetton this year and is set to get back in the cockpit of the B200 again at Estoril after the Italian Grand Prix.

The new deal with Computershare will help fund Webber's hopes of breaking into Formula One. The 24-year-old hopes to secure his motor racing future before the end of the Grand Prix season.