Stoddart: Webber's Jaguar Test Part of Bigger Picture

Minardi team owner Paul Stoddart has said that Mark Webber's test with Jaguar Racing next week is part of his plans to secure a supply of Cosworth engines for the 2003 season.

Australian Webber will test for Jaguar in Barcelona next week as part of the Milton Keynes-based team's plans to evaluate drivers for 2003 with Eddie Irvine yet to sign a new deal.

And Stoddart revealed that the test is part of his plans to land Cosworth engines next year with current suppliers Asiatech set to introduce their own team in the sport within the next two years.

"It's part of another deal," Stoddart admitted of Webber's test, which comes on the back a similar one-day outing in Jaguar's R3 by Renault's Fernando Alonso. "Obviously we've got to look at 2003.

"I don't want to say any more about it but you don't have to be Einstein to work out what Jag might have what we want. It's all part of a slightly bigger picture."

Stoddart insisted, however, that he does not expect to lose Webber, who is contracted to Renault, from Minardi despite the test. He said: "No, not at all. Put it this way, not at the moment."

Jaguar and Arrows currently use Cosworth engines, with the pair having scored a total of five points between them this season.