Make Way for Webber, Brabham Tells Irvine

Jaguar should go ahead with rumoured plans to oust Ulsterman Eddie Irvine in place of Australian hot-shot Mark Webber, according to three-time World Champion Sir Jack Brabham.

Brabham, who took part in the Oulton Park Gold Cup revival last weekend, believes Irvine, the oldest of the current drivers, has had his day. He called for the former Ferrari star to make way for Webber so the Aussie favourite, who made his Grand Prix debut for Minardi this season, can get the chance he deserves.

"Irvine has been there too long and it would probably be better if he went," said Brabham. "He's been there some time and hasn't really achieved anything and neither have the team.

"It's probably time for a change at Jaguar and I think Webber has shown he has the speed to do well. Maybe he can help move things forward for them."

Webber scored an emotional two points in his debut race in Australia in March and despite his Minardi team's cash-strapped status he has scored just one point less than Irvine and the much more affluent Jaguar outfit.

Brabham believes that if Jaguar snap up Webber for next season, as is widely expected, they would have their hands on a future World Champion and he insists a move from Minardi would be best for the Australian, who turned 26 on Tuesday.

"Webber's done a super job in his first year with Minardi and I think he has got what it takes to be a World Champion," said Brabham. "He's certainly had the right training with Formula Three and Formula 3000.

"He seems to me to be made of the right stuff. If he goes to Jaguar it has to be good for his career because there are no definite signs yet that Minardi will offer him a better chance next year."

Brabham, along with Alan Jones the other champion from Australia, won the Gold Cup four times against the likes of Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart in the 1950s and 1960s. He is the only driver in history to win a world title at the wheel of one of his own cars.

He returned to his spiritual home of Oulton Park in Cheshire, one year before its 50th anniversary, to demonstrate one of his most famous machines from 1969, and left ecstatic after the experience.

"It was great," he said. "Oulton Park and one of my favourite cars - just how it used to be. I look forward to coming back for the 50th - it should be a marvelous occasion."