DECEMBER 31, 2003

Wilson to Rahal?

There is talk in the United States that Justin Wilson could be on his way to join Bobby Rahal's CART team. Rahal has spent this year running Michel Jourdain Jr with backing from Mexico's Gigante supermarket chain and the Mexican offshoot of Office Depot. Rahal has close links with Ford and a deal for Wilson would probably be arranged through Ford as it has not been able to find a place for him at Jaguar Racing this year, having been forced to take Christian Klien because the Austrian brings Red Bull money with him. Jourdain finished third in the 2003 CART series, behind Paul Tracy and Bruno Junqueira and the addition of a driver of Wilson's calibre would undoubtedly strengthen the team and the series.

"I hope the FIA will change the rules about testing," Wilson told the Daily Express, "but right now we will have to look at the States, where I had an offer last year in Champ Cars. I like that series because you can really race there, but clearly Formula 1 is the place to be."