Of the outfit's current drivers, Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa, only the Spanish racer's contract covers next season and a Jaguar Racing spokesperson confirmed to formula1.com that Webber's test was part of their routine preparations for next year.

The 25-year-old has been one of the sensations of the season, picking up fifth place in his maiden Formula One™ race at his home town of Melbourne in March, and he has put in several strong performances since.

Despite Minardi's smaller budget, his car has proved one of the most reliable in the pit lane and he has finished all but one of the first eight races of the season.

Although Toyota's team manager Ange Pasquali recently denied speculation that Webber would join the Cologne-based outfit next year, the Australian is rumoured to have been in talks with several teams.

Webber has links to Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and he acted as test driver for them last season, when they were known as Benetton.

The 25-year-old is not the first up-and-coming driver to be given a run in the R3. Another Briatore protégé, Fernando Alonso, also tested for Jaguar, prior to the Canadian Grand Prix, and impressed with his performance. The Spaniard raced for Minardi in 2001, before taking over Webber's role at Renault this season.

Jaguar Racing has not commented on Irvine's position for next year, but the Ulsterman recently stated his desire for a competitive car, after two difficult years with Jaguar.

The 36-year-old raced with Ferrari for four years prior to joining Jaguar in 2000, and finished as runner-up in the 1999 Drivers' FIA Formula One World Championship™.

"I want to have the best car I can have," he commented in Montreal. "That's all that interests me. Money is not the issue. I just want to have the most competitive car I can get.

"I don't need the money. I've made plenty in Formula One and plenty more outside Formula One so I'm not doing it for that. That part is a game.

"Results on the track are what is serious to me. I don't need Formula One but I like it. I can live without it but I am not a one dimensional person."

The Leaping Cat has had a difficult time this year, after they discovered aerodynamic flaws with the R3 in pre-season testing. The opening of their UK wind tunnel has enabled them to find some improvement, and they are hoping that a new package, to be introduced at the British Grand Prix on July 7th, will see them take a further step forward.