Webber Presses Claim for Minardi Drive

Mark Webber has increased his chances of becoming Australia's first Formula One driver since 1994 after an impressive test with Minardi.

Team boss Paul Stoddart said on Friday that the 25-year-old had earned a further outing with the team at Misano Adriatico in Italy on Tuesday and Wednesday after his strong showing in a test at Valencia on Thursday.

"He's done a damn good job, he's on the shortest of the short lists," Stoddart told Reuters by telephone from Malaysia where Minardi are showing off their two-seater car and launching a sponsor logo.

Webber's fastest lap of 1:16.113 at Valencia in Spain in his first day in the car on Thursday was considerably quicker than confirmed Malaysian driver Alex Yoong managed in a race simulation on Wednesday. Yoong clocked 1:17.795 while Dutch driver Christijan Albers, testing with Webber on Thursday, managed 1:18.634.

"He did it on oldish tyres and definitely not in qualifying trim, a very respectable time to say the least," said Stoddart, who hired Webber for his Formula 3000 team in 2000 after they were introduced by Eddie Jordan.

"If he does another 1.16 again today then I'll be seriously impressed."

The Australian, last year's Benetton test driver and F3000 contender who has a contract with Renault boss Flavio Briatore, would make his Formula One debut at home in Australia on March 3 if he can secure the drive.

Youngest Son

Australia has not had a Formula One driver since David Brabham, youngest son of triple champion Jack Brabham, left the now defunct Simtek team in 1994. The last race winning driver from the country was Alan Jones, who won the World Championship with Williams in 1980 and retired in 1986.

But Webber's racing future depends on a French judge who must decide whether the Prost team can continue this season. Stoddart has made no secret that established drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen of Germany and Jos Verstappen of the Netherlands are at the top of his shopping list to fill the vacancy at Minardi left by Spain's Fernando Alonso.

Arrows, who confirmed Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi last week, have been talking to Frentzen since November as a possible replacement for Verstappen. The Formula One rumour mill says Prost have an option on the German, who has denied already signing an Arrows contract, should they be in a position to make the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 3.

If Prost survive, Verstappen is expected to then stay at Arrows and clear Webber's path to Minardi. Team sources said the Australian was otherwise likely to be offered a test role.