Wilson will be a better fit for 2003: Minardi
Alan Baldwin
Britain's Justin Wilson is being lined up for a Formula One debut drive with Minardi next season after proving too tall to fit safely into this year's car.
"Justin's most definitely in the frame for next year," said team owner Paul Stoddart at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
"It's pretty clear that we've got a track record now of bringing a star a year on and I intend to try and keep that up."
Wilson, the reigning Formula 3000 champion, missed out on a drive with the tail-end team at the Hungaroring this weekend after he was unable to squeeze his six feet three inch body into the car at a recent seat fitting.
The job, as a stand-in for Alex Yoong after the Malaysian failed to qualify for three races, went to Wilson's shorter compatriot Anthony Davidson instead. Davidson, 23, will also race in Belgium.
"It's well known that Justin Wilson was the first choice and had he fitted in the car, Anthony wouldn't have got his break," said Stoddart.
He said Minardi, who could also have significant British investment by next season, would make sure Wilson could fit into the 2003 chassis.
"There's no doubt that what we've learned in the last week will guarantee that our car next year will fit a driver of Justin's physique," said Stoddart.
PREDICAMENT
"To have been put in this predicament, where less than an inch is the difference between a guy having something he's deserved and dreamed of all his life come true and not, is very harsh.
"The regulations are there to enable a car to be built to accommodate Justin's size. We just didn't choose to build one (this year) because we didn't need to."
Davidson could also press his claims with a strong showing this weekend and Stoddart did not rule out the possibility of an all-British line-up in future.
"Clearly if he (Davidson) does a good job for us, then he'll be on our list of drivers that we are seeking to get in 2003," said Stoddart.
Yoong despite bringing in important sponsorship this season, does not have a contract next year while Australian Mark Webber is expected to move to Jaguar.
"It'll probably be decided this weekend actually," Stoddart said of Webber's future.
"I think there's a fair chance that we will (lose him) and I'm not afraid of losing Mark.
"I need Mark to go on and do bigger and better things, he's very much a driver that I feel personally involved with and secondly we have got a good track record of bringing on one a year and I rather like that."
Minardi gave drivers such as Italians Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella their Formula One debuts as well as young Spaniard Fernando Alonso.
Stoddart, who gave American Bryan Herta a taste of Formula One at a two-seater event in England last weekend, also mentioned Italian hopeful Giorgio Pantano as a driver who had impressed him greatly as well.
INVESTORS
On the financial side, he said Minardi were talking to three groups of investors, one of them involving Irish businessman Brendan McGuinness.
McGuinness represents a Saudi consortium interested in a total takeover of the team but Stoddart said that he intended to remain in Formula One and his preferred option was "one that doesn't involve selling a majority".
He suggested that another unnamed group of potential investors -- "as English as the day is long and a nice bunch of people as well" -- could be a better fit.
