Grapevine: Minardi Set to Announce Webber Deal

Australian Mark Webber is expected to be confirmed as Minardi's second driver for the 2002 season on Monday evening.

Webber, 25, impressed in tests at Valencia and Misano for the Anglo-Italian team and will be announced as Malaysian Alex Yoong's teammate for the new season at a special news conference.

Minardi is expected to announce the deal in a live satellite link-up with an Australian television network at 20.30 GMT at a studio in London. The Queanbeyan-born driver finished second to Briton Justin Wilson in the International Formula 3000 Championship last year after a season with Super Nova.

The Minardi deal will see Webber link up with compatriot Paul Stoddart, who was his team boss during his first year in F3000 and is now chief at Minardi. Webber was contracted as an official test driver with Arrows in the same 2000 season, but contractual disagreements meant he did not run for the Leafield-based team.

Instead he joined the Benetton-Renault team and clocked up a number of miles last season. He has a long-term contract with Renault boss Flavio Briatore. Webber spent one year in Australian Formula Ford before moving to England, where he won the Formula Ford Festival in his first year in 1996.

He moved into British Formula Three for a season in 1997 with Alan Docking Racing, before spending two seasons in the FIA GT Championship as a Mercedes works driver. Webber would become the fifth Australian driver to compete in Formula One if he makes his debut in his homeland in the season-opening race on March 3.