JANUARY 12, 2002

Webber to test for Minardi

Mark Webber is to join the Minardi team's testing next week in Valencia.

MARK WEBBER is to join the Minardi team's testing next week in Valencia. Webber met with Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham on Friday and he will now test the car for two days. Webber is now the firm favorite to land the second Minardi seat alongside Malaysian Alex Yoong.

If that were to happen it would be a repeat of the British Formula 3 series team Alan Docking Racing a few years ago when Webber and Yoong were team mates.

Although contracted as a test driver to Renault Sport, Webber is believed to have a clause which will allow him to leave the French-owned team if there is the chance of a full-time drive in F1.

This is now looking more and more of a certainty - which will send the Australian public rushing to buy tickets for the race in Melbourne in March. If the deal goes ahead Webber will be the first Australian to race in F1 since 1995.