After getting both of their cars into the top ten at the last round in France, Minardi will be looking to maintain their strong reliability record at this weekend's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Mark Webber came home eighth at Magny-Cours after showing some impressive pace in the PS02, while team mate Alex Yoong, though same way back, also finished the race in the top ten.

At Hockenheim, Minardi, and indeed all the teams, face a new challenge as the track layout has been significantly altered since last year. Such is the extent of the redesign, that from an engineering perspective it is effectively a new circuit.

The changes should favour Minardi, as the focus of the track has switched from outright power to a more balanced overall package. Much of the old, fast forest section has gone. In its place are several new corners, including a tight hairpin and an extra complex of turns before the original stadium section.

Both Webber and Yoong have sampled the old Hockenheim layout during their days in International Formula 3000. Webber qualified seventh for last year's race, but retired on the opening lap after getting caught up in a first-corner incident. Yoong failed to make the grid on his only visit back in 1999.

Speculation about the future of both Minardi drivers will again be rife in Germany. The pace and maturity shown by Webber in his debut season has impressed many team bosses, but the Australian has expressed a desire to stay with compatriot Paul Stoddart's team. Any outside chance of a race seat with former employers Renault has now gone following their announcement of Fernando Alonso for 2003.

Alex Yoong has enjoyed less positive press than his team mate, but did at least answer some of his critics with his performance in France. After failing to make the grid at the previous round at Silverstone, the Malaysian driver fought back and safely qualified at Magny-Cours.

In the race, he didn't let an early spin rattle him and kept things together to make it to the flag. Nevertheless, Yoong's general lack of pace means has left many questioning his future in the sport, and he will need another consistent weekend at Hockenheim if he is to silence the talk. The revised layout, and the fact that it is new to everyone, should work in his favour.

Hockenheim is traditionally hard on cars, with its long periods of full throttle and its heavy braking zones. While the circuit changes should lessen this to some degree, a high rate of attrition is still likely, meaning ultra-reliable Minardi could again be in with an outside chance of points.

Alonso finished tenth for them in Germany last year, while in 1999 they had two cars in the Hockenheim top ten, with Marc Gene ninth, immediately ahead of team mate Luca Badoer.