▁ride ▁at ▁the ▁last ▁minute ▁to ▁Gast ón ▁M azz ac ane , ▁a ▁less ▁experienced ▁but ▁more ▁finan cially ▁sol vent ▁driver . ▁He ▁spent ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁as ▁an ▁F 1 ▁test ▁driver ▁for ▁Michel in ▁as ▁the ▁ty re ▁manufact urer ▁prepared ▁to ▁re - enter ▁Formula ▁One ▁competition . ▁Unable ▁to ▁secure ▁a ▁full - time ▁Formula ▁One ▁ride ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁season , ▁Wilson ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁joined ▁the ▁Ar ci ero - B la ir ▁Racing ▁Team ▁to ▁contest ▁the ▁Champ ▁Car ▁World ▁Series . ▁ ▁Tour ing ▁cars ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁he ▁drove ▁one ▁race ▁in ▁the ▁International ▁Tour ing ▁Car ▁Championship ▁at ▁Inter lag os ▁for ▁Al fa ▁Rome o , ▁as ▁all ▁manufact ur ers ▁had ▁one ▁local ▁driver ▁to ▁improve ▁interest ▁among ▁local ▁spect ators . ▁He ▁led ▁the ▁second ▁race ▁for ▁a ▁while , ▁eventually ▁finishing ▁in ▁ 2 nd . ▁Fail ing ▁to ▁raise ▁a ▁full ▁Champ ▁Car ▁budget ▁for ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁Wilson ▁moved ▁to ▁Australia ▁where ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁Ford ▁V 8 ▁Super c ars ▁team ▁Brig gs ▁Motor ▁Sport . ▁In ▁his ▁second ▁out ing ▁in ▁a ▁V 8 ▁Super car , ▁Wilson ▁qualified ▁fifth ▁at ▁the ▁C li ps al ▁ 5 0 0 ▁in ▁Ad ela ide . ▁Racing ▁for ▁Dick ▁Johnson ▁Racing ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁he ▁took ▁his ▁first ▁pod ium ▁finish