Wilson gears up to break mould for Grand Prix drivers

FACES TO FOLLOW IN 2003: Britain's newest Formula One competitor has head start in rising above doubters and detractors

If an unflappable temperament is essential armour in the heat of conflict, Britain's newest Grand Prix driver comes well equipped.

Justin Wilson has already demonstrated admirable self-control off the track in the face of constant interrogation about his height and, more recently, the financing of his drive with Minardi Ford.

He has grown up with the problem of being much taller than the stereotypical racing driver. Jackie Stewart warned him years ago that he had no future in single-seater categories. Now Wilson arrives in Formula One with the dubious tag of "paying'' driver.

The twin issues have served to obscure the fact that the 6ft 3in, 24-year-old from Sheffield is a gifted racer and some of the best qualified judges maintain his elevation to the sport's highest level is overdue.

Last year, Wilson became the first Briton to win the International Formula 3000 championship, embellishing the achievement with a record number of points. The distant runner-up was an Australian called Mark Webber, who subsequently joined Minardi and performed impressively enough last season to be signed by Jaguar.

Wilson distinguished himself during that title season not only with his consistent results but also an aggressive driving style, allying a natural pace to assured overtaking manoeuvres; a rare sight for weary Formula One eyes.

Racing is in the family genes. Wilson's father, Keith, mixed it with the likes of James Hunt, even outqualifying the future world champion in their fledgling days. However, Keith Wilson's track career ended after a freak accident at Oulton Park in 1975. A grass snake had been fatally attracted to the pedals of his car, the throttle stuck open and Wilson Senior crashed heavily, breaking both legs and his back.

His enthusiasm for the sport remained intact and, several years later, he took Justin to a kart race. The boy was beguiled, soon had his first kart and a life of racing began. He was eight.

"It all started when my dad was looking for something to do," he recalls. "He asked me if I'd like a kart of my own, and I jumped at the chance. He took me racing, and things just developed from there.''

The development from karts to cars was steady if unspectacular. Wilson was seventh in the cadet class of the 1989 British kart championship, then 12th and fourth in the junior British championship in 1991 and 1992 respectively.

A harbinger of more significant things to come was his victory, first time out, in the 1994 Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series. In 1995, he won the Formula Vauxhall Junior Challenge Cup, and the following year, competing for Paul Stewart Racing, was runner-up in the Formula Vauxhall Championship.

Although Wilson slipped to fourth in the series in 1997, he recorded another three race victories and left Paul and Jackie Stewart in no doubt about his capability. Alas, they were unable to offer him a car to take the next logical step.

Jackie Stewart explains: "Justin was very, very good but he couldn't have fitted in the Formula Three car at the time so we had to let him go. It was certainly not the right decision based on driving talent.''

Wilson, who by then had grown into a beanpole figure, was advised to consider another route in racing. "Jackie warned me I wasn't going to fit into a Formula One car and suggested I look at something like sports cars or touring cars," explains Wilson. "That gave me something to think about, but ever since I had that first kart my only dream was of Formula One.

"My dad took me to the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in 1986, and Silverstone in 1987 and 1988, when Nigel Mansell had those great races. At Silverstone, we sat on the outside at Woodcote and I had to cover my ears because the cars were so noisy. But I knew that was what I wanted to do.

"At school, they tried to make me a goalkeeper because I was so tall. I didn't enjoy school," admits Wilson, who, like Stewart, is dyslexic, "but all I ever thought about was racing. I took on board what Jackie said but I wanted to keep trying for Formula One, and my dad was determined as well, so we looked at ways of continuing in single seaters.

"The trouble was we didn't have the budget for Formula Three. That was when we wrote to Jonathan Palmer for advice.''

Wilson was, by that pivotal period of his career, working as a driving instructor for Palmer, who competed in 84 Grand Prix during the 80s. The reply informed Stewart that Palmer was forming his own championship which might give him the kind of opportunity he was seeking.

Wilson entered and won the 1998 Formula Palmer Audi Championship, claiming nine victories from 17 races. His prize, provided by Palmer, was a drive in the International Formula 3000 championship, the intended final proving ground for Formula One. He struggled to make an impact in his first season, but switched to the more competitive Nordic Racing Team in 2000 when he finished fifth, establishing his platform for success in 2001.

Palmer, installed as his manager, trawled the Formula One paddock trying to persuade teams to give Wilson a chance. They could see the potential for themselves, but could also envisage the problems posed by attempting to fit that long frame into their cars.

Wilson had an impressive test with Jordan and sat in a McLaren in the hope of proving a point, but still no offer came his way from Formula One and he had to burn off some of the frustration by competing in the insignificant Dallara Nissan Series.

A door suddenly opened, and then slammed in his face, when Minardi sought a driver to replace the hapless Malaysian, Alex Yoong, for a couple of races. Wilson was their preferred choice and answered the call, only to discover his legs were too long for their car. Anthony Davidson, almost a foot shorter than his countryman, popped into the breach with room to spare.

But Davidson spun out of each Grand Prix and Minardi stayed in touch with Wilson. They offered both drivers the possibility of a seat for the coming year, for the price of five million dollars.

Wilson ultimately came up with a package that satisfied the Anglo-Italian team, and they set about designing a cockpit big enough to accommodate him.

Wilson, who is still one of Palmer's instructors, said: "All I want to do now is get in the car and start driving. I've had to deal with the problem of my height all through my career, so I can cope with it. I'm going to focus on doing a good job and showing what I can do. Hopefully, that will convince people I am in Formula One to stay.''

And perhaps then he will be able to give up the job at the driving school.