Profile of Justin Wilson on Famous Like Me

Justin Wilson is a motor-racing driver from Great Britain.

He began racing karts in 1987 before progressing through the ranks, competing in various categories including Formula One and winning the Formula 3000 Championship in 2001 in a record-breaking season.

Justin struggled to raise the money needed to get a Formula One seat with the Minardi team in 2003, so his management team came up with the idea of selling "shares" in him to the public to raise the £1.2 million needed. The scheme was supported by Murray Walker amongst others and ended a great success as it ended up being oversubscribed. There are nearly 900 shareholders, each of whom invested a minimum of GBP500. Justin is presently managed by former Grand Prix driver Jonathan Palmer. Palmer heads a company called MotorSport Vision that owns a number of UK race tracks including Brands Hatch.

Race Results and Appearances

2005

• Moved to the RuSport Champ Car team to partner A.J. Allmendinger this is his first paid drive (he didn't need to bring sponsorship with him); picks up his first Champ Car win in the Molson Indy Toronto. Continuing with his success in Canada, Justin finished third in the Molson Indy Montreal.

2004

• Did not retain his position with the Formula One Racing team Jaguar Racing. This was because Ford were not prepared to pour unlimited funds into F1 and advised the team that they would have to take on a "pay driver". Christian Klien, an Austrian national funded by Austrian drink company Red Bull, and who had tested for Jaguar in November 2003, was able to bring sponsorship and thus secure a driver's seat for 2004;
• Joined Champ Car World Series with Mi-Jack Conquest Racing. Qualified as high as 2nd in his rookie season but finished the year in 11th place (second highest rookie);
• Raced at the famous 24 hours of Le Mans motor-race this year, driving the #16 Racing for Holland Dome-Judd S101 with Tom Coronel and Ralph Firman. He showed an impressive pace in only his second competitive outing in a sportscar (he also raced at the 12 Hours of Sebring race in the US), setting the cars fastest lap of 3’36.726 (fastest bar the dominant Audi R8 prototypes)

2003

• Raced in Formula One with Minardi for the start of the season, team boss Paul Stoddart having designed the car around his 6'3" frame. The car was off the pace but Justin's fast starts got him noticed.
• Signed to Jaguar Racing for the last five races of the season, starting with the German Grand Prix
• Scored first F1 World Championship point at the U.S. Grand Prix.

2002

• Raced in the Nissan Telefonica World Series coming 4th overall with two wins, one second place, five third places and two pole positions. Tested for the Minardi Formula 1 team, but was unable to get comfortable in the car due to his height.

2001

• Wins the FIA International Formula 3000 Championship with three wins, six second places, one third place and two pole positions - he broke the records for the most points in an F3000 season (71) and the most podium finishes (10)

2000

• Fifth in the FIA International Formula 3000 Championship for Nordic Racing with one second and one third

1999

• Started in the International FIA Formula 3000 Championship with Team Astromega supported by Benetton Formula One - one of only seven drivers out of the forty two competitors to qualify for every round of the championship

1998

• Wins the Formula Palmer Audi Championship with nine wins, ten fastest laps, six lap records and four pole positions
• Finalist in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award.

1997

• Comes 4th in the Formula Vauxhall Championship for Paul Stewart Racing with one lap record, two pole positions, four fastest laps, three first places, two seconds and two thirds

1996

• Comes 2nd in the Formula Vauxhall Championship for Paul Stewart Racing with one lap record, two pole positions, three fastest laps, one first place, five seconds and three thirds

1995

• Wins the Formula Vauxhall Junior Challenge Cup
• 3rd Best Newcomer in Formula Vauxhall Winter Series
• Finalist in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award
• Winner of the BRDC Chris Bristow Trophy for the most promising driver to race at Silverstone National Circuit.

1994

• Comes 5th in the Formula ‘A’ British Championship
• Comes 3rd in the Renault GP at Buckmore Park
• Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series - won first ever race, becoming the first 16 year old to win a British Motor Race

1992

• Comes 4th in the RACMSA Junior British Championships

1991

• Comes 12th in the RACMSA Junior British Championships getting 1st at the Metro Centre GP and 2nd Hull Street GP

1990

• Graduated to Junior Britain:
  • 1st Wombwell & Langbaugh Club Championships
  • 1st Fulbeck Club Championship (3 consecutive years)

1989

• Comes 7th in the Cadet National British Karting Championship.

1987

• Began racing Cadet Karts (aged 8 years 9 months)

Complete Formula One results

(Note: grand prix in bold denotes points scoring race.)

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