Jaguar Weigh Options as Winter Testing Begins

Jaguar Racing will tomorrow begin testing two possible replacements for Briton Justin Wilson as Formula One roars back into action in Spain after a six-week end-of-season break.

Young hopefuls Christian Klien, of Austria, and American Townsend Bell will join the team's Australian race driver Mark Webber in Valencia for an initial assessment while Wilson sits out the test until Thursday.

Wilson, who joined the team in the middle of the year, had his contract extended until the end of December to allow him to test for the team but they are also keen to assess other options.

They are believed to be considering the need for a paying driver to partner Webber next year after a budget reduction for 2004 and that could rule Wilson out of the running.

A Jaguar spokesman said: "There are no doubts or uncertainties about Justin but there are a lot of options and a lot of things to think about. There is also the need to consider a test and reserve driver."

The team do not have to make a decision on their second driver until at least the end of the year but the spokesman admitted the deadline could be extended right up to the eve of next season if necessary.

World Championship runners-up Williams will join Jaguar at Valencia with race drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya and test driver Marc Gene all in attendance for a scheduled four-day testing session.

McLaren will also test in Valencia but World Champions Ferrari head to Barcelona with a three-car line-up of Brazilian test drivers Felipe Massa and Luciano Burti and Italian Luca Badoer.

Briton Jenson Button will also return to action for BAR-Honda at Barcelona alongside his new Japanese teammate Takuma Sato, while Italian Giancarlo Fisichella will make his debut for Sauber at the Spanish track.