MARCH 13, 2000

Arrows confirms Webber testing deal

TOM WALKINSHAW's Arrows F1 Team has confirmed that Australian rising star Mark Webber will be its test driver this year.

TOM WALKINSHAW's Arrows F1 Team has confirmed that Australian rising star Mark Webber will be its test driver this year. Webber will also compete in the International Formula 3000 Championship with the Arrows Junior Team, which is run by Paul Stoddart's European Racing team. Webber is also expected to act as an international ambassador for the Foster's brewing group which has just announced a huge 10-year deal in Formula 1 which will give the Australian beer company naming rights to the British and Belgian Grands Prix, increased trackside signage and beer-selling rights at Grand Prix venues around the world.

"With this new agreement we are acknowledging that the Grand Prix relationship delivers the magnitude of global audiences and positive brand associations we expect from a sponsorship investment," said Foster's chief executive Ted Kunkel.

The financial details of the new deal between Foster's and Allsport Management, the company which exploits signage and hospitality at Grand Prix races, were not revealed but our sources suggest that the deal is worth at least $50m.