09/05/2003
NEWS STORY
Jaguar Racing today confirmed that Mark Webber has extended his current contract with the team for two further years - taking the partnership through to the end of the 2005 season.
"I hope that, by making this announcement so early in the season, people will realise just how serious both our intentions are to firmly establish Jaguar's place in Formula One," said Mark. "We know it's not going to happen overnight, so I'm very happy that we've made this commitment now and can continue the hard work we've already started this year. For me personally and as a driver, I'm very excited by the prospect of being involved in what is a long-term objective, and to see our goals being realised as we make further progress over the next two years," commented Mark.
"Mark is an outstanding talent and everyone at Jaguar Racing is naturally delighted that the partnership will extend to the end of the 2005 season," said David Pitchforth, Managing Director. "Mark's start to the season has been very impressive and his approach to racing is very professional - both inside and outside the cockpit - and we see Mark as an integral part of our long-term development. His natural abundance of skill and commitment provide a considerable impetus for the team to continue strengthening at all levels of the business and in the process, take our challenge to teams further up the grid."
Mark joined Jaguar Racing in November 2002 from the KL Minardi Asiatech Formula One Team. He made his race debut for Jaguar Racing at the 2003 Australian Grand Prix and since then, has qualified his Jaguar R4 twice in the top six (3rd in Brazil and 5th in San Marino). At the Spanish Grand Prix last weekend, Mark finished the race in 7th place and scored the team's first championship points of the 2003 season.