JULY 4, 2001

Webber confirmed as Benetton's 2002 tester

BENETTON have confirmed that Australian Mark Webber will remain as their test driver for 2002, but added that suggestions of a race seat elsewhere are wide of the mark.

The Enstone-based team will make the announcement official when they decide on their first choice driver line-up for next season later this year, but Webber will remain in his current capacity as a tester.

Benetton boss Flavio Briatore has yet to make a decision over whether Giancarlo Fisichella will continue as Jenson Button's team-mate or whether Jarno Trulli will be brought in from Jordan.

"We have options on both Fisichella and Trulli, and we will decide between July and August but we will never have two Italians together," Briatore told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I am very happy with Giancarlo," he added. "He deserves to stay at the team. Trulli could stay another year with Jordan as there are few other available teams out there."