Mark Webber has joined with his Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner's Arden squad to form MW Arden Racing for the new GP3 series set to debut in 2010. The Australian believes that the new category is a perfect place for young drivers to showcase their talents.
"I've always enjoyed watching youngsters come through in any motorsport and realize their potential," Webber told AUTOSPORT. "The timing [of GP3] was good. A new category like this is a phenomenal opportunity for young drivers to go to grand prix tracks and race in front of the F1 teams."
Webber didn't deny that young Australians might get a preferential look, but says he will try to avoid favoritism in selecting talent.
"Yes, there is going to be a part of me that leans toward my part of the world," he said. "But we're in a performance business and Christian and I have exactly the same mentality about this team – we want to be toward the front and we will do whatever we can to get there."
GP3 is being launched as an official feeder series to GP2, the development series for F1. The races will be run exclusively in Europe. Although initial plans were for the new series to be built via a merger with International Formula Master, that series will now continue on its own. Instead, GP3 will utilize a new Dallara spec chassis, which will be powered by a 280hp Renault engine. Series organizers claim a full season of GP3 can be run for around $900,000.