Wilson aims for home win at Silverstone

The 22-year-old from Rotherham is one of three drivers who could come away from the Northamptonshire venue with the series lead, as Benetton test driver Mark Webber (Super Nova) and Coca-Cola Nordic team mate Tomas Enge are breathing down his neck in the title standings. But Wilson hopes that racing in front of his home crowd on Saturday will give him extra impetus.

"Being British, the Silverstone Grand Prix weekend means a great deal to me and it is my main ambition to win in front of the home crowd," said Wilson: "I moved into the Silverstone area several weeks ago, so this is like a second home to me now. I have a good knowledge of the circuit, but then again so do several other drivers. The important thing, as usual, is qualifying and I am determined to be at the top of the times as quickly as possible."

Wilson has won two rounds of the championship this year, and finished on the podium last season at Silverstone. Webber, however, won the 1999 British GP support event, and both he and Enge have also won races this year.

Nordic's team manager Chris Mower said: "Justin finished on the podium here last year, so we are quietly confident that he can do at least the same again. It is an important race for us because the top three are so close in the drivers' championship, and whoever finishes in front of will probably be leading the championship going to Hockenheim [the penultimate round of the championship at the end of the month]."

After his win in the previous round at Magny-Cours, however, Webber's team boss David Sears is confident his man can bring home the bacon.

"Mark looks to me like a guy who is in good shape for a title fight," he said.