23-year-old Justin Wilson will be unveiled as Minardi’s new driver tomorrow morning. The Sheffield racer has joined the ranks of the motor racing elite after coming up with £2million in sponsorship. The 6ft 3in driver has been linked with Minardi for weeks after coming through a seat-fitting in Italy last month. Now he will be unveiled as the Anglo-Italian team's first driver for next season at a hotel near Heathrow Airport tomorrow.
Wilson, won the F3000 title in 2001, missed out on a F1 drive with Minardi last year because he was too big for the cockpit. But Wilson proved last month that he can safely get into the monocoque of the 2003 car.
Minardi boss Paul Stoddart said then that Wilson getting a drive was dependent on coming up with the sponsorship money. Wilson, who has also been linked to Jordan, has been competing in a junior formula in Brazil this year where he finished in second place.
He was scheduled for a CART test with the Newman-Haas team before Christmas that is likely to be shelved now he has his ticket to F1. He will make his debut in the season opening race in Australia on March 9th.
Filed by Johnny Proby
