Jaguar Confirm Wilson's Contract Extension

Justin Wilson will be given the chance to stake his claim for a seat with Jaguar Racing in 2004 in winter testing in December after having his contract extended by six weeks.

Jaguar are currently deciding who to appoint as teammate to Australian Mark Webber next year and 25-year-old Wilson will test throughout December at Barcelona, Valencia and Jerez after agreeing to a temporary extension.

"Justin's contract was due to expire at the end of October and we have come to a mutually beneficial decision to extend that because we are due to start our winter testing programme in December," a Jaguar spokesman said. "Everyone is a winner. It gives the team two drivers for testing and it gives Justin extended time in the car.

"The team also have more time (to decide) our drivers for 2004. We have to make a decision on who is going to be in the car in testing, you cannot decide that at the 11th hour. This way the two sides have more time to work together."

Wilson scored one point in five races for Jaguar after switching from Minardi, but speculation has been rife that McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz is at the top of Jaguar's wanted list.