Champ Wilson to test new Lola

The 23-year-old has been drafted in for the official FIA test at Estoril on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. He will be on hand to help F3000 tyre supplier Avon develop its new Formula 1-sized rubber that is being used on the new B2/50. Nordic Racing, which took Wilson to this year's title, will once again help Lola run the car, as they did for its first test at Barcelona at the beginning of this month.

"I'm looking forward to driving the new car, it should be fun," said Wilson. "It will be nice to get back behind the wheel. Avon are still trying to develop the tyres so I hope I can help and get everything ready for next year."

Having won the championship, Wilson would never consider returning to race in F3000. But the new car still holds a lot of interest to him. "I'm curious to see what it is like," he said. "Having raced for three years with the old car, in some ways I'm wondering what it would be like to race the new one."

Wilson is looking towards the USA for 2002 and visited the CART finale at Fontana earlier this month. No tests have been scheduled, although he did report some interest from teams.