Thursday July 5th, 2001

Australian Mark Webber, who won the F3000 race last Sunday at Magny Cours, is set to be confirmed as Benetton's test driver next year, reports claim.

According to Benetton's affiliate website, Sportal, the young Australian has already been confirmed for the job however the team is witholding an official statement until their racing driver line-up is decided.

Team boss, Flavio Briatore, had already made it clear that Webber will not have a racing seat with the team. At the same time, Briatore needs to decide who will drive alongside Jenson Button for Benetton, which will be renamed Renault, next year.

"We have options on both Giancarlo Fisichella and Jarno Trulli," Briatore told Gazzetta dello Sport, "and we will decide between July and August." Briatore added that in any event, he will not have both drivers alongside each other. "We will never have two Italians together," Briatore explained.

"I am very happy with Giancarlo," he added. "He deserves to stay at the team. And Trulli could stay another year with Jordan, as there are few other available teams out there."

Published at 15:54:10 GMT

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