Yahoo Autos Snetterton Honors Justin Wilson By Naming One Of Its Most Challenging Corners After Him
The late Justin Wilson will have a hairpin corner named after him at England's Snetterton Circuit, where he honed his skills before winning seven IndyCar races.
Turn Two, the Montreal hairpin, is now Wilson Corner-complete with a special sign depicting Wilson's helmet design. It is a tight 180-degree hairpin that comes right after a sweeping right-hander and a 300-meter straight. It is not an easy corner to handle. "This should prove to be a great overtaking point on the lap," said former BTCC champion Jason Plato, "wide enough on the way in and also enough space past the corner to not punish a late lunge."
It was at Snetterton where Justin's father Keith Wilson raced in the Sixties, entertaining Justin and his brother Stefan with stories. "Snetterton is a great circuit steeped in history and after having new life injected into it by Jonathan its life should extend for further generations," he said. When they grew older, the two brothers raced here themselves. And it was track CEO Jonathan Palmer who helped Wilson launch his career, when he won the first-ever Formula Palmer Audi championship; according to the IndyCar website, Palmer guided Wilson through much of his single-seater career.
"Justin Wilson thoroughly deserved the support which that success brought him," said Palmer. "Not only was Justin an outstanding racing driver, he was also the epitome of a true sportsman, earning universal respect and admiration. He leaves a lasting legacy that we will cherish and perpetuate, with the naming of Wilson corner at Snetterton an important part of that."
Wilson joins a who's who of motorsport. In 2008, the track organizers asked fans to suggest names for the corners, who responded in turn: Snetterton's corners also honor Ayrton Senna, Martin Brundle, Lewis Hamilton, Williams founder Sir Frank Williams, and motorcycle racer Giacomo Agostini.
There was no fan suggestion needed to honor Wilson. The tribute, which goes into effect this weekend, comes at an especially keen time: this Sunday, three British Touring Car Championship races fall on what would have been Wilson's 38th birthday.
