For immediate release, March 13, 2001 

Super Nova Formula 3000 driver, Mark Webber, has flown to Malaysia on the back of a strong two-day official test at Silverstone which saw the Benetton F1 test driver topping the times on the opening day and ending the test second overall as the teams prepared for the first round of the F3000 championship at Interlagos, Brazil in three weeks time (March 31).  

Since returning to the UK from Australia early last week, Webber has spent five of the last eight days testing at Silverstone, and after completing a successful run with the Benetton F1 team there last week, was able to transfer his momentum to his F3000 programme this week. 

Cold and overcast weather greeted the teams on Monday but Webber was quickly into his stride and repeatedly set the pace with a series of lap times good enough to place him at the top of the time sheet several times over, his best lap being a 1min 36.811s and the only driver to break into the 36s. Commented Webber, "We had a very productive morning. Having seen the weather forecast the night before, I didn't think we'd get in any dry running at all today, so it was a pleasant surprise we actually did. The car felt very good in the dry conditions and we were constantly making small improvements ready for the first race." 

The predicted rain set in for the afternoon session though, and both Webber and Super Nova team-mate, Mario Haberfeld, limited their running to just a few laps. A wet track from heavy overnight rain meant Tuesday's morning session was consigned to wet set-up work before the track dried out for the afternoon.

Sebastien Bourdais was the first to improve on Webber's time from the previous day, the young Frenchman setting the pace with a 1min 36.516s and improving again to a 1min 36.326s. Webber and Haberfeld traded places behind Bourdais, with Webber just keeping his nose ahead with a 1min 36.444s compared to Haberfeld's 1min 36.593s.

"It was great to get in another dry run before we go to Brazil as it enabled us to get the final bits of information for the first race. The boys have done a really good job to get a good car set-up for the grand prix meeting here at Silverstone in July and I'm very satisfied with how things have gone over the last two days."

Webber is due to return from Malaysia before this weekend's Formula One has even begun, in order to be ready for further F1 testing duties with Benetton at Barcelona early next week.                                                                                                                      

SILVERSTONE F3000 TESTING (top six) 

1. Sebastien Bourdais(France)           DAMS                                    1min 36.326s
2. Mark Webber (Australia)                Super Nova                             1min 36.444s
3. Mario Haberfeld (Brazil)                  Super Nova                             1min 36.593s
4. Darren Manning (England)              Arden Team Russia                 1min 36.798s
5. Justin Wilson (England)                 Coca-Cola Nordic Racing          1min 36.834s
6. Antonio Pizzonia (Brazil)                Petrobras Junior Team             1min 36.871s 

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