Wilson Confirmed at Minardi for 2003

Briton Justin Wilson will drive for Minardi in the 2003 season, the Formula One team said today.

Minardi, who made the announcement at a news conference today, have yet to name Wilson's teammate for next season after dispensing with Malaysian Alex Yoong and Australian Mark Webber's departure to Jaguar.

The 24-year-old Wilson beat Webber when in 2001 he became the first British champion in the Formula 3000 series, a proving ground for Formula One hopefuls.

Wilson was in line to replace underperforming Yoong for two races last season but was unable to fit his 1.90-metre (six foot three inch) frame into the car and his compatriot Anthony Davidson got the drive.

Last season he finished fourth in the inaugural Formula Nissan 2000 world series.

Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart said this month that although he did not doubt Wilson's talent, the Sheffield-born driver would have to come up with a substantial amount of sponsorship to secure a drive with the cash-strapped team.

Australian Stoddart rescued the Italian-based team less than two months before the start of the 2001 season and has struggled to get the finance together to keep them going in what have become increasingly difficult times for F1.

Earlier this month, the team signed a deal to use the Ford Cosworth engine, which they hope will help them to improve upon their ninth-place finish last season. Dutchman Jos Verstappen, who missed last season after being dropped by Arrows, was thought the top of a list of around 20 drivers vying to join Wilson at Minardi.

Wilson won three F3000 races (Interlagos, A1-Ring, Hungaroring) in 2001 and finished on the podium a record 10 times in 12 races on his way to breaking Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya's record for season points total with 89.

Wilson tested with Jordan at Silverstone in October 2001 and, despite the problem with the 2002 Minardi, managed to get some laps in a different Minardi car earlier this year.

CART team Newman-Haas, whose champion driver Cristiano da Matta will race in F1 for Toyota next season, also invited Wilson to test at the Homestead track in Florida in October.