No testing reprieve for Wilson

Justin Wilson's hopes of the new test driver regulation being overturned were dashed when team bosses agreed to uphold the decision. Wilson lost his race seat with Jaguar to Christian Klien but the team was keen to keep Justin as test driver. However, the third driver in Friday practice at race weekends must not have competed in more than six GPs in the last two seasons.

Justin Wilson.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

Some teams -- and indeed some drivers -- hoped the regulation would be discarded but at a meeting in London today, January 16th, it was decided it would stay. "The rule wasn't changed," Jaguar's Tony Purnell told Reuters.

"It's rather disappointing. I can't see that the sport benefits from locking out drivers of Justin's ability. But that's the way it is. I thought there was a little bit of a chance because I thought it was good for the sport, but that wasn't everybody's view."

Other experienced drivers such as former Renault test driver Allan McNish, ex-Sauber man Nick Heidfeld and 2003 Jordan driver Ralph Firman will also lose out any chance of finding a test role should a race seat not be forthcoming. Jordan is the only team yet to confirm race drivers for this season and currently Heidfeld and Jos Verstappen are the favourites.