Benetton Help Alonso Work Towards Licence

Spain's Fernando Alonso, under contract to Minardi, tested with the Benetton team for the second day in a row on Thursday to try to secure his Formula One super licence.

Minardi, who used ageing Ford engines last season, have yet to announce who will be driving for them in 2001 or who will be providing their engines, although Alonso has a five-year contract with them.

The struggling Italian team have scored just one point in the last five years and have also lost their major Spanish sponsors Telefonica.

"Alonso is testing with Benetton who have agreed to put on some kilometres for him to get the super-licence," a Minardi spokeswoman said on Thursday from the team's Faenza headquarters.

"As we can't test at the moment, Benetton are letting him test with them."

Alonso has been linked to both Benetton and Ferrari in the media but his representative said last month that the teenager's first priority was to support Minardi.

The Spaniard completed 34 laps on Thursday for a total of 360 kms over the two days.

Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reported that French engineering concern Mecachrome was interested in buying Minardi but team boss Giancarlo Minardi would not confirm it.

Deal by Christmas

"I have no intention of commenting on the reports until the negotiations we are involved in are definite. The definite thing, however, is that Minardi will be at the start of the championship in 2001," said Minardi.

The newspaper quoted him as saying he would announce "the deal that should guarantee the team's future" by Christmas.

Benetton are now owned by French carmakers Renault while team boss Flavio Briatore runs Supertec, who provided Renault-based engines to Benetton and Arrows last season and worked closely with Mecachrome.

The links have prompted speculation that Minardi could secure a rebadged Renault engine in 2001 to ensure that 11 teams remain in Formula One.

Benetton's Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella, who started his career with Minardi in 1996, tested in the afternoon. He is due to have keyhole surgery next week on a knee injury.

The team said Briton Jenson Button, who was fastest in Thursday's session, would be joined by the team's new Australian test driver Mark Webber for the final tests of the year in Estoril, Portugal, next week.

The Prost team, still to say who will partner Frenchman Jean Alesi next season, tested Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi on Wednesday and Spanish CART racer Oriol Servia on Thursday.

Jaguar meanwhile gave German Formula Three driver Andre Lotterer his first Formula One outing.

Lotterer did 55 laps, without incident. "I thought the car would be quicker, it was very difficult under braking but I really enjoyed the day," he said.

Teams using Bridgestone tyres were testing at Valencia, with David Coulthard setting the pace for McLaren in the morning, ahead of Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello.