On 23rd August 2015, IndyCar driver Justin Wilson was hit by a part of a nose cone that had fallen from another competitors car, causing a severe head injury.
The British driver was rushed to hospital, whilst the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway carried on. He later passed away, with his parents, Keith and Lynne, wife Julia and brother Stefan at his side. Wilson will always be remembered for his competitiveness as a driver, but chiefly for his charisma as a person, which touched a great deal of those around him.
To commemorate his long racing career, we at Read Motorsport look back on his finest moments behind the wheel.
5. First Oval victory
During his time in the United States, Wilson gained a reputation as being one of the leading drivers on the country’s road courses, which made most of his Champ Car success. However, the former Minardi and Jaguar F1 driver struggled for results on the high-speed ovals in America, so his breakthrough win in the 2012 Firestone 550 came as a surprise, given both his form on the high-speed tracks, as well as the fact that Wilson started the race from row nine.
The Brit’s giant-killing victory proved his determination, as he fought through his struggles after the breakup of the Champ Car series, to earn his day in the sun.
4. First F1 point
Justin Wilson managed to crowd-fund his way into Formula One by giving investors the chance to donate a maximum £500 to his cause, his backers included legendary commentator Murray Walker. Wilson’s investment scheme paid off, as Minardi willingly designed the car’s frame around the British driver’s six foot, four inches stature.
The Minardi PS03 was traditionally off the pace, and Wilson jumped at the chance to replace the outgoing Antonio Pizzonia at the Jaguar team. In his 5 races at the team, Wilson scored on one occasion, at the USA Grand Prix, where he finished eighth out of 11 finishers, two laps down from winner Michael Schumacher, although the changeable conditions makes this achievement no mean feat.
3. Dominant Mexico win
Wilson was enjoying a stellar year in only his second season since he made the jump from F1 to the Champ Car series in America, and the Sheffield-born racer finished it off in style, as he took a hard-earned win after achieving pole position on the hallowed, former F1 venue the day before.The victory meant that Wilson finished the year in 3rd place in the drivers’ standings, behind Oriol Servia and the champion, future Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Bourdais, taking two wins in the process and joining legends such as Prost, Senna and Mansell as winners at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
2. Vintage ’98 season
1998 saw Wilson compete in the inaugural Formula Palmer Audi championship, as the 20-year old looked to prove himself worthy of consideration for a Formula One drive. Wilson won the single-make series comfortable fashion, taking 9 race wins over the course of the year, and amassed a winning margin of 30 points, more than a race win ahead of double LeMans winner Darren Turner. Wilson’s performances earned him a nomination for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award, in which he missed out to 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button.
1. Record Setter in F3000
Wilson followed up his Formula Palmer Audi success with a three-year stint in Formula 3000. His final year in the last step before F1 proved to be an overwhelming success, securing the title by a record margin of 32 points, becoming the first British Formula 3000 champion, whilst also taking a total of 3 wins and only finishing outside the top three on two occasions in the calendar’s 12 races. All this was achieved in the company of many drivers who would go on to race in Formula 1 and Le Mans, including Mark Webber, Giorgio Pantano, Sebastien Bourdais and Tomas Enge to name a few, which makesWilson’s sublime 2001 season his most impressive achievement.
The Brit finally achieved his goal, and was picked up by Giancarlo Minardi to be his team’s test driver for the 2002 season, behind race drivers Alex Yoong and future teammate Mark Webber, and went on to make his debut for the team the following year in a turn of events which marked the beginning of memorable seasons for the Yorkshireman.
Justin Wilson’s death has touched a great number of fans and workers alike in the motorsport community and raises further concerns over the safety of open-cockpit racing, nevertheless, Justin’s passing remains an untimely tragedy, following the equally saddening death of Jules Bianchi, and deserves to be remembered for the talented racer he was, as well as the genuine and friendly human being that existed underneath the helmet.
RIP Justin
