Wilson Hopes to Beat Webber to Minardi Drive

Justin Wilson is in talks with Minardi over a last-minute career-saving Grand Prix drive for this season, the Briton has revealed.

Formula 3000 champion Wilson is in a race for the place alongside Australian Mark Webber, who he beat to the F3000 title last year and who is also one of the favorites for the seat at the Faenza-based squad.

"We are talking with Minardi and me and Mark are in the same position - we both need to find a backer." said Wilson. "It would be nice to beat him to the drive."

Wilson was thought to be in line for a test drive with the Anglo-Italian team this week, but he denied things have gone that far.

"We have spoken to Minardi," said Wilson. "But I have not heard about testing yet."

Jordan snubbed Wilson for a place in their team for this season, preferring to opt for young Japanese driver Takuma Sato. But Wilson revealed that there is still a chance that he could be snapped up by the Silverstone-based team as a test driver for this season.

"They do not know what is happening with their testing plans yet," he said. "But I am still talking to them."