Wilson ready for new challenge

With a new team, new car and effectively a new circuit to get used to this weekend, Jaguar Racing's Justin Wilson has a busy German Grand Prix ahead of him. While the British driver's leap from Minardi to the Milton Keynes based outfit has further ...

With a new team, new car and effectively a new circuit to get used to this weekend, Jaguar Racing's Justin Wilson has a busy German Grand Prix ahead of him. While the British driver's leap from Minardi to the Milton Keynes based outfit has further raised expectations, in what has already been an impressive rookie season, Justin continues to take everything in his stride while relishing the prospect of racing for his new team for the five remaining races of the year.

Justin has already enjoyed a brief taste of the Michelin-shod Jaguar R4, in a trouble free shakedown test yesterday on Silverstone's South Circuit.

"My first day with Jaguar on the track went according to plan," commented Wilson. "The team did a lot of work over the weekend making adjustments to the cockpit area and in the end, it paid off handsomely."

"I fitted in well and the Jaguar R4 felt very good to drive. It was only a handful of laps but enough to whet my appetite as we go into the German Grand Prix this weekend. Roll on two-hour testing on Friday - I cannot wait."

"I've been studying the video of last year's race to learn more about the changes made to Hockenheim since I last raced there. It's certainly different and the obvious challenges will be learning both the R4 and the new parts of the circuit on Friday. I'm conscious of taking things one step at a time but a finish in the top ten for my first time with Jaguar Racing would be a great result!"

Justin, who celebrates his 25th birthday on Thursday, raced to second place at Hockenheim when he last competed at the German track in the 2001 International F3000 Championship. The track has changed substantially since then, altered to a new 4.47km configuration without the run through the forest that previously epitomised the German Grand Prix.

Justin's first real outing in the Jaguar R4 comes in Friday's early morning private test session for the Heathrow Agreement teams, prior to the opening qualifying session for Sunday's 67-lap race.