Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Justin Wilson Q&A

Justin Wilson was in the headlines recently when he had to forego a Minardi drive in Hungary and Spa because he could not squeeze his lanky frame into the PS02. Anthony Davidson got the chance instead, and immediately became a candidate for a drive for next season. Once again doubts were raised about Justin ever getting the chance to race an F1 car, but he hasn't given up. His manager Jonathan Palmer paid a visit to the recent Belgian GP - exactly a year after Wilson won the F3000 title. He's keeping busy racing in the Formula Nissan series in Spain, although it's been a mixed season so far. Adam Cooper spoke to the Englishman



"It's great to have had the opportunity, although it's obviously frustrating that it didn't happen. But there's not much I can do apart from get over it and start looking to the future now."



"Yes, it's nice to know there are people interested - even though I didn't get in the car it's a nice feeling to know there was the opportunity."



"I'm not sure yet. I've got to see exactly what the opportunities are and see what happens really. Up to Monza it's quite a crucial time, and we'll see what can happen. It's not impossible, it's something I'm still aiming for."



"Yes, it's still something I wouldn't turn away from. If there isn't the opportunity In F1, that's were I need to look."



"I went to watch a race, saw what was going on. But I never got to drive one."



"The cars are not a great deal bigger than F1. They're longer but lower, more laid down. But other than that they don't see it as a big problem. I think they're more used to quite large drivers than over here in Europe."



"It's tough. A character-building season, I think!"



"No, the team are good, it's just things aren't quite gelling at the minute. We're improving all the time. Last time we qualified third for the first race and pole for the second, but we've had a few problems in qualifying that translated to the start of the race and I couldn't get off the line. After the first start I thought maybe I've forgotten how to do a start, but after the second one I thought something wasn't right! I finished fourth and fifth, disappointing from where I started, but it's encouraging that we're on the pace now, which is where we've been struggling for the first part of the season."



"Yeah. It's better to be driving, and it's a competitive championship. Obviously there's Ricardo Zonta, my team-mate Franck Montagny, Bas Leinders, there's a few other good drivers as well. It's very competitive. It's different - a lot of people ask me to compare it to F3000, and it's not easy to do. It's the same in that you can only change the roll bars, the dampers, the springs, the ride height, the wings. The gear ratios are a little bit more restricted. Other than that there's not much else you can do - you're not allowed to redesign the car."



"In some ways it doesn't. It's quite strange. A lot has happened, but I'm still in the same position as last year. It's encouraging that we're getting the response that we have done. I'm amazed by the press that we received for not driving! We'll keep working on it..."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article F1 Lucky to Have Schumacher, Says Ecclestone
Next article Schumacher Wanted a Break After Sept 11 Attacks

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe