Williams Pleased with Webber's Testing Debut

Mark Webber and Williams got off to a good start this week, as the Australian concluded today a four-day testing session at Barcelona, making his debut in the Williams car.

"We have just finished a successful first test with Mark Webber," the team's technical director Sam Michael said. "It's great to have him on board the team.

"I have to say that Mark impressed me with his speed even on his first morning in the car, his consistency throughout the rest of the test, particularly on longer runs, was also impressive. He had some positive comments about the car and quickly got down to brake, set-up and tyre testing for us."

Engine partner BMW's motorsport director, Mario Thiessen, added: "The relationship has started well and we look forward to its continual development."

Webber joins Williams for 2005, after two years at the Jaguar team, having made his Formula One debut in Minardi, in 2002. The highly-rated Australian set the ninth fastest time of the week in Barcelona, where eight of the ten Formula One teams ran a total of 19 drivers since Tuesday. He also ran a total of 247 laps - over 1,100 kms - and ended six hundredths of a second behind the team's test driver Antonio Pizzonia's fastest time of the week.

"This week was a really good week," Webber said. "I've enjoyed working with everyone on the team and I think I've fitted in well. Although we encountered some problems at the start of the test, we managed to work through them and resolve them fairly quickly.

"I'm happy with the car, and the work the guys at BMW do, and I know there's great potential within the team. I'm relieved that this first test is now out of the way and we can start working really hard over the next few months."

Williams have yet to announce who will partner Webber next season, and Germany's Nick Heidfeld is set to test for the team in Jerez, where they will resume testing next Tuesday.