Wilson's value for money vow

Britain's Justin Wilson was duly confirmed as a Formula One driver at London's Heathrow Airport yesterday, maintaining he would fit the bill and give his personal backers value for money.

Wilson will drive for Minardi Ford next season, after paying a "fee'' for the privilege and convincing grand prix racing's smallest team that he was worth the effort of building a car to accommodate him.

Few have questioned Wilson's ability or determination, and his emphatic success in the 2001 International Formula 3000 championship ought to have been a passport to the sport's premier category. However, Wilson came up against a big and familiar problem. At 6ft 3in he is too tall for the standard cockpit and that deterred potential employers. Minardi tried to squeeze him into their car for two races last season, but had to give up on the idea.

To Wilson's relief, Minardi did not give up on him and promised to design the 2003 car based on his dimensions – provided he could stump up the required contribution to the team's budget. The figure demanded was $5m (£3.2m) although Minardi decline to confirm it.

The 24-year-old from Sheffield, who has spent the past season in the lowly company of the Dallara Nissan Series, said: "My height has been an issue through most of my career and it's been very frustrating since I won the Formula 3000 championship, trying to get a chance in Formula One.

"Fortunately, people have stuck by me and Minardi have given me the opportunity every driver dreams of.' I don't think I'll have a problem and I believe I can build a career in Formula One."

Wilson raised the money through the efforts of his manager, the former Formula One driver Jonathan Palmer, who scoured the market for backers, small and large. Wilson's father, James, another ex-driver, although he never reached Grand Prix level, has dipped into his pockets and investors are still welcome to join the venture for as little as £100.

Paying drivers are not uncommon at the back end of the grid and for Minardi they are vital. The Malaysian, Alex Yoong, was clearly out of his depth last season, but two of the Anglo-Italian team's other recent recruits, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber, have graduated to bigger concerns after impressive performances.

"We have developed young drivers here and I'm sure Justin will be just as good as Alonso and Webber," said Paul Stoddart, Minardi's Australian team principal.

Wilson, who makes his grand prix debut in Australia, on 9 March, becomes Britain's third driver on the 20-man entry list for next season, joining McLaren's David Coulthard and Jenson Button, now with BAR Honda.

Minardi's other driver is almost certain to be a Dutchman. Jos Verstappen is understood to have substantial commercial support in his homeland.