Jaguar Boss: Don't Write Wilson Off Yet

Justin Wilson has been handed a vote of confidence from Jaguar boss Tony Purnell - and promised he could still retain his place at the team for next season.

Briton Wilson joined Jaguar from Minardi three races ago but has failed to match Australian teammate Mark Webber and is yet to record his first race finish for the Milton Keynes team.

His Formula One future now rests on the final two races of the season but Purnell said: "Don't write off Justin just yet. He's got an impressive record, a great work ethic and a stick to your guns attitude that will serve him well.

"We're very much aware that we have to give Justin 100 percent reliability until the end of the season and he just needs a weekend where things go his way - then people will see him shine the way we know he can."

Wilson beat Webber to the Formula 3000 championship crown two years ago but struggled to make it into Grand Prix racing because of concerns that his 6'3" frame would not fit in a Formula One car.

Formula One minnows Minardi gave Wilson his break this season but parted with him when Jaguar called him up to partner Webber, who made his debut with Minardi last year, for the rest of the year.

But after a torrid time with original driver choice Antonio Pizzonia, Jaguar have become frustrated that mechanical problems have left Webber as the driver who has scored all 17 points for the team this year.

"I think we've got an ace in our pack with Mark but it's frustrating that one driver has delivered all of our points this season," said Purnell. "That is a piece of our jigsaw we need to deliver on."

Wilson, who is understood to already have a three-year draft Jaguar contract, has just two races now to prove that they should sign that deal and not sign someone else to fill the seat for 2004.

The team said recently that there is a list of around 20 drivers available to choose from but rumours have suggested Sauber's German driver Nick Heidfeld has already stolen the seat for next year.