Alexander Wurz Explained

Alexander Wurz
Nationality: Austrian
Birth Date:15 February 1974
Birth Place:Waidhofen an der Thaya, Lower Austria, Austria
Years:–,,
Team(S):Benetton, McLaren, Williams
Races:69 (69 starts)
Championships:0
Wins:0
Podiums:3
Points:45
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:1
First Race:1997 Canadian Grand Prix
Last Race:2007 Chinese Grand Prix
Module:
Embed:yes
Years:1996, 2008–2015
Team(S):Joest Racing, Team Peugeot Total
Best Finish:1st
Class Wins:2

Alexander Georg "Alex" Wurz (pronounced as /de/; born 15 February 1974) is an Austrian former professional racing driver, driver training expert and businessman. He competed in Formula One from until, and is also a two-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

He is currently under contract to race for the Toyota factory racing team in the WEC (World Endurance Championship).In Formula One, he is a commentator for TV and media, as well as being Williams F1 Team's driver coach, chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association,[1] and occasionally a driver steward.

Career

Cycling

Born in Waidhofen an der Thaya, Wurz competed in cycling events in his youth, and won the BMX World Championship in 1986 at the age of 12. In 2000, Wurz started a mountain bike team with his countryman Markus Rainer. The team, Rainer-Wurz.com, is sponsored by sponsors McLaren, Siemens, and Cannondale, and has won the World Cup several times. In the early 2000s, niche bicycle brand Katarga presented a limited edition high-end mountain bike called the Alexander Wurz EVO SL, whose frame prominently featured Wurz's autograph.[2]

Auto racing

Early career

Like most Formula One drivers, Wurz's motorsport career began with karting. In 1991, Wurz drove in Formula Ford. In 1993, he switched to the German Formula Three Championship. During his time in Formula 3, Wurz crashed out of the lead at a race at AVUS in 1995 after a collision with the safety car.[3] From 1996, Wurz drove an Opel Calibra for the Joest Racing touring car team in the DTM. Also in 1996, Wurz, together with Davy Jones and Manuel Reuter, won the Le Mans 24 Hours and in so doing became the youngest ever winner of the 24-hour race, a record he still holds.[4]

Formula One

Benetton (1997–2000)

Wurz's Formula One debut was on 15 June 1997 at Montreal for Benetton filling in for fellow Austrian Gerhard Berger, who could not race due to illness.[5] Wurz achieved a podium position in his third race (1997 British Grand Prix) before returning to being a test driver upon Berger's return to the cockpit at the German Grand Prix, which Berger won.

Wurz was given a full-time race seat for the 1998 season with Benetton and spent three more seasons at the team, partnered each year by Giancarlo Fisichella. In 1998, he outscored Fisichella by one point to finish joint 7th in the driver's championship together with Heinz-Harald Frentzen. At the 1998 Monaco Grand Prix, he was running second ahead of Michael Schumacher for a brief period, but his hopes of a podium finish were ruined when Schumacher collided with him when tried to pass at Loews hairpin. The collision broke his suspension, causing him to spin off and crash at the Nouvelle Chicane exiting the tunnel.

The 1999 season was a disappointment for both drivers with the uncompetitive B199 (although Fisichella scored a podium in Canada). In the 2000 season, Wurz scored points only at the Italian Grand Prix, while Fisichella scored podium finishes three times. For 2001, Benetton's last season before its transformation into Renault, he was replaced with Jenson Button.

Testing (2001–2006)

In, Wurz was a test driver for McLaren. In he was almost promoted as race driver for McLaren to replace Mika Häkkinen but he remained as test driver after Kimi Räikkönen took over.

In April 2005, with Juan Pablo Montoya injured, Wurz drove for McLaren in the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix, finishing fourth in the race, but taking third place after both BAR-Honda drivers were disqualified. This gave him the record for the longest interval between podium finishes at eight years.

Since signing to McLaren as test driver, Wurz had been eager to return to racing. At various times, rumours linked him to a return to a full race seat. In he was strongly linked to a race seat at Jaguar, where the under-fire Antônio Pizzonia was struggling. However, McLaren were struggling with their abortive new car and blocked the move to retain Wurz as a development driver. Jaguar then decided to give Pizzonia more time to prove himself, before drafting in Justin Wilson.

Williams (2007)

Wurz signed a deal with WilliamsF1 to become the team's official test and reserve driver at the beginning of 2006. He drove the third car at all Friday sessions in . It was announced on 3 August 2006 that Wurz would replace Mark Webber as a race driver at Williams for the season. This was Wurz's first full-time race drive since 2000, and his teammate was Nico Rosberg. At the Monaco GP on 27 May 2007, Wurz scored his first points for Williams, finishing in 7th place after qualifying 11th. He came third for the third time in his F1 career at the Canadian Grand Prix on 10 June 2007, having started 19th on the grid in an action packed race. He nearly repeated this at the European Grand Prix, but was unable to overtake Mark Webber at the final chicane. That race turned out to be Wurz's last points finish. On 8 October 2007 he announced his immediate retirement from Formula One, meaning that the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix was his final race.[6] He cited doubts over his own commitment as the main reason for his departure.[7] He was replaced by Williams test driver Kazuki Nakajima for the final race of the 2007 season in Brazil.[8]

Honda and Brawn GP (2008–2009)

Wurz was the Honda F1 test driver for the 2008 Formula One season,[9] a role he kept when the team became Brawn GP in .[10]

Williams (2012)

For the 2012 Formula One season, Wurz rejoined the Williams F1 Team, this time to guide the team's inexperienced drivers Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado.[11]

Sportscars

Wurz signed with Peugeot to be part of their driving squad for the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans and he also participated 1000km of Spa in the Le Mans Series.

In 2009, together with Marc Gené and David Brabham, he took outright victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, driving a works Peugeot.[12] The 13-year gap between Wurz's victories is the largest in the event's history.[4] Together with his victory in 2010 of the 12hrs race of Sebring with Marc Gené and Anthony Davidson and his victory of the 1000 miles race of Road Atlanta with Stéphane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny in 2011 it made him win the 3 big Sportscar Classic Races in a Peugeot 908.[13] [14] Wurz continued to race for Peugeot Sport Total through 2010 and 2011, though no further Le Mans wins were forthcoming. In November 2011, Toyota Motorsports confirmed Wurz as one of their factory drivers for the companies planned return to the 24 Heures du Mans in 2012.[15] Wurz will drive their new LMP1 Hybrid Prototype alongside Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima.[16]

Rallycross

In May 2018 Wurz announced that he would follow in the footsteps of his father by making his competitive rallycross debut at the FIA World Rallycross Championship's World RX of Norway at Lånkebanen the following month, driving a Ford Fiesta Supercar for MJP Racing Team Austria.[17]

Road safety

Wurz is involved in many projects regarding road safety and driver education and training. In 2006, he and his father founded the company Test and Training International, a leader in the field of road safety and driver training. He also works closely with the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), since 2011 as an operating partner of the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.

Medical car driver

In the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Wurz drove the medical car after regular driver Jacques Tropenat fell ill.[18]

Team management

Team Superfund

Wurz lodged an entry for his own team into Formula One (announced on 31 May 2009) but the application was unsuccessful. Team Superfund was one of several new applicants hoping to compete in the sport from the 2010 season onwards. It was believed that Wurz would prefer to align the team with an existing constructor based in the UK, perhaps renting space, facilities and staff from its factory, while Superfund takes time to build up its own headquarters, possibly based on existing resources in Austria.[19] The team would have been funded by Christian Baha, the owner of the Superfund Group, and the cars would be powered by Cosworth engines.

Personal life

Wurz is the second son of former rallycross driver Franz Wurz, who won the European Rallycross Championship in 1974, 1976 and 1982.

Wurz resides in Monaco, is married to Julia Horden and has three sons: Charlie (also a racing driver), Felix and Oscar.[20] [21] He used to race with different coloured boots on each foot, but since his return to racing in 2007, he wears matching pairs. On 10 November 2015 Wurz announced via his Twitter that after 20 years he would retire from racing.[22] Wurz also has two sons Charlie who is currently competing in Formula 3 for Jenzer Motorsport and Oscar who currently leads the 2024 Formula 4 CEZ Championship.

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
1992German Formula Ford 1600Walter Lechner Racing School95539170[23] 1st
1993Austria Formula 3 CupRSM Marko??????1st
German Formula 3 Championship1600002713th
Masters of Formula 310000N/A17th
1994German Formula 3 ChampionshipG+M Escom Motorsport19313122192nd
Macau Grand Prix10000N/A15th
Grand Prix de Monaco F310000N/A10th
Masters of Formula 310000N/A26th
1995German Formula 3 ChampionshipG+M Escom Motorsport150003746th
British Formula 3 Championship10000421st
Macau Grand Prix10000N/A7th
Grand Prix de Monaco F310000N/A6th
Masters of Formula 310000N/ANC
1996International Touring Car ChampionshipOpel Team Joest2000104316th
24 Hours of Le MansJoest Racing11001N/A1st
1997Formula OneMild Seven Benetton Renault30001414th
FIA GT ChampionshipAMG Mercedes1015432510th
1998Formula OneMild Seven Benetton Playlife160010178th
1999Formula OneMild Seven Benetton Playlife160000313th
2000Formula OneMild Seven Benetton Playlife170000215th
2001Formula OneWest McLaren MercedesTest driver
2002Formula OneWest McLaren MercedesTest driver
2003Formula OneWest McLaren MercedesTest driver
2004Formula OneWest McLaren MercedesTest driver
2005Formula OneWest McLaren Mercedes
Team McLaren Mercedes
10001617th
2006Formula OneWilliams F1 TeamTest driver
2007Formula OneAT&T Williams1600011311th
2008Formula OneHonda Racing F1 TeamTest driver
24 Hours of Le Mans10000N/A5th
2009Formula OneBrawn GP F1 TeamTest driver
24 Hours of Le MansTeam Peugeot Total11001N/A1st
2010Le Mans Series100001131st
24 Hours of Le Mans10000N/ADNF
2011American Le Mans Series21001N/ANC
Le Mans Series11001N/ANC
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup42002N/AN/A
24 Hours of Le Mans10000N/A4th
2012FIA World Endurance Championship63304963rd
24 Hours of Le Mans10000N/ADNF
2013FIA World Endurance ChampionshipToyota Racing6130269.54th
24 Hours of Le Mans10000N/A4th
2014FIA World Endurance ChampionshipToyota Racing812051165th
24 Hours of Le Mans10000N/ADNF
2015FIA World Endurance ChampionshipToyota Racing80001796th
24 Hours of Le Mans10000N/A6th
2016IMSA SportsCar ChampionshipFord Chip Ganassi Racing100002727th
2018World Rallycross ChampionshipMJP Racing Team Austria20000029th

Complete International Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213141516171819WDCPoints
Mild Seven Benetton RenaultBenetton B197Renault RS9 3.0 V10AUSBRAARGSMRMONESPCAN
FRA
GBR
GERHUNBELITAAUTLUXJPNEUR14th4
Mild Seven Benetton PlaylifeBenetton B198Playlife GC37-01 3.0 V10AUS
BRA
ARG
SMR
ESP
MON
CAN
FRA
GBR
AUT
GER
HUN
BEL
ITA
LUX
JPN
8th17
Mild Seven Benetton PlaylifeBenetton B199Playlife FB01 3.0 V10AUS
BRA
SMR
MON
ESP
CAN
FRA
GBR
AUT
GER
HUN
BEL
ITA
EUR
MAL
JPN
13th3
Mild Seven Benetton PlaylifeBenetton B200Playlife FB02 3.0 V10AUS
BRA
SMR
GBR
ESP
EUR
MON
CAN
FRA
AUT
GER
HUN
BEL
ITA
USA
JPN
MAL
15th2
West McLaren MercedesMcLaren MP4-20Mercedes FO 110R 3.0 V10AUSMALBHR
SMR
ESPMON
EUR
CANUSAFRAGBRGER
17th6
Team McLaren MercedesHUN
TURITABEL
BRA
JPNCHN
Williams F1 TeamWilliams FW28Cosworth CA2006 2.4 V8BHR
MAL
AUS
SMR
EUR
ESP
MON
GBR
CAN
USA
FRA
GER
HUN
TUR
ITA
CHN
JPN
BRA
 – –
AT&T WilliamsWilliams FW29Toyota RVX-07 2.4 V8AUS
MAL
BHR
ESP
MON
CAN
USA
FRA
GBR
EUR
HUN
TUR
ITA
BEL
JPN
CHN
BRA11th13

Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Sports car racing

Le Mans 24 Hours results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLaps
Joest Racing Davy Jones
Manuel Reuter
TWR Porsche WSC-95LMP13541st1st
Team Peugeot Total Stéphane Sarrazin
Pedro Lamy
Peugeot 908 HDi FAPLMP13685th5th
Team Peugeot Total David Brabham
Marc Gené
Peugeot 908 HDi FAPLMP13821st1st
Team Peugeot Total Marc Gené
Anthony Davidson
Peugeot 908 HDi FAPLMP1360DNFDNF
Peugeot Sport Total Anthony Davidson
Marc Gené
Peugeot 908LMP13514th4th
Toyota Racing Nicolas Lapierre
Kazuki Nakajima
Toyota TS030 HybridLMP1134DNFDNF
Toyota Racing Nicolas Lapierre
Kazuki Nakajima
Toyota TS030 HybridLMP13414th4th
Toyota Racing Stéphane Sarrazin
Kazuki Nakajima
Toyota TS040 HybridLMP1-H219DNFDNF
Toyota Racing Stéphane Sarrazin
Mike Conway
Toyota TS040 HybridLMP13876th6th

Le Mans Series results

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine12345RankPoints
2010Team Peugeot TotalLMP1Peugeot 908 HDi FAPPeugeot HDI 5.5 L Turbo V12
(Diesel)
LECSPA
ALGHUNSIL31st11
2011Peugeot Sport TotalLMP1Peugeot 908Peugeot HDI 3.7 L Turbo V8
(Diesel)
LECSPA1
IMOSILESTNCN/A

1 Driver run for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, no points awarded for the Le Mans Series.

American Le Mans Series results

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine123456789RankPointsRef
2010Team Peugeot TotalLMP1Peugeot 908 HDi FAPPeugeot HDi 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel)SEB
LNBMONUTALIMMIDAMEMOSPET
NC –[24]
2011Peugeot Sport TotalLMP1Peugeot 908Peugeot HDI 3.7 L Turbo V8
(Diesel)
SEB1
LBHLIMMOSMDORDABALMONPET1
NCN/A[25]

1 Driver run for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, no points awarded for the American Le Mans Series.

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup results

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine12345678RankPoints
2012Toyota RacingLMP1Toyota TS030 HybridToyota 3.4 L V8 (Hybrid)SEBSPALMS
SIL
SÃO
BHR
FUJ
SHA
3rd96
2013Toyota RacingLMP1Toyota TS030 HybridToyota 3.4 L V8 (Hybrid)SIL
SPA
LMS
SÃOCOAFUJ
SHA
BHR
4th69.5
2014Toyota RacingLMP1Toyota TS040 HybridToyota 3.7 L V8 (Hybrid)SIL
SPA
LMS
COA
FUJ
SHA
BHR
SÃO
5th116
2015Toyota RacingLMP1Toyota TS040 HybridToyota 3.7 L V8 (Hybrid)SIL
SPA
LMS
NÜR
COA
FUJ
SHA
BHR
6th79

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results

(key)

Supercar

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Accident Panel. 3 December 2014. Federation Internationale de l'Automobile.
  2. News: Mountain-bike Alexander Wurz Edition. Veni, vidi, velo!. 21 April 2014. 1 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140502005635/http://ciclist.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/bicicleta-alexander-wurz-edition/. 2 May 2014. dead.
  3. Web site: Safety car hits Wurz. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/B8lutheieVs. 2021-12-12 . live. YouTube.
  4. 18 June 2009. Third-time plucky for Peugeot . . 196 . 12 . 36–47.
  5. F1 Racing magazine, December 1997, pg 46
  6. News: Wurz confirms immediate retirement from F1. autosport.com. 8 October 2007. 8 October 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071011014535/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63165. 11 October 2007 . live.
  7. Web site: Wurz retirement statement. https://web.archive.org/web/20071011022106/http://dedhost-s-sil-057.sil.at/www.alexwurz.com/en/. dead. 11 October 2007.
  8. News: Williams confirm Nakajima for Brazil. autosport.com. 9 October 2007. 9 October 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071011020255/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63168. 11 October 2007 . live.
  9. News: Wurz joins Honda as test & reserve driver . autosport.com . 10 January 2008.
  10. News: Wurz retains ties to Brawn GP. autosport.com . 29 March 2009.
  11. Web site: Wurz to mentor Williams duo | Williams F1 Team News | Formula 1 Teams | Sky Sports . 2012 . 28 February 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120302055800/http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12476/7534659/Wurz-to-mentor-Williams-duo . 2 March 2012 .
  12. News: Peugeot win Le Mans 24-hour race . BBC . 2009-06-14.
  13. Web site: 2010 Race Results . 17 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110409182728/http://www.americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/1/2010%20Sebring%20ALMS%20Results.pdf . 9 April 2011 .
  14. Web site: Final Race Report . 17 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120127000212/http://americanlemans.com/files/results/2011/ALMS%20Petit%20Final%20Race.pdf . 27 January 2012 .
  15. Web site: Wurz ditches Peugeot to lead Toyota Le Mans assault . 15 November 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402021413/http://www.motorstv.com/car/endurance/07112011/wurz-ditches-peugeot-lead-toyota-le-mans-assault . 2 April 2012 .
  16. http://www.racing-report.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12935:wurz-leaves-peugeot-to-head-toyota-driver-lineup&catid=6:aco-in-the-paddock&Itemid=209 Wurz leaves Peugeot to head Toyota driver lineup
  17. Web site: Ex-F1 driver and Le Mans winner Alex Wurz to contest World RX round . Ridge . Hal . 18 May 2018 . . 20 May 2018.
  18. News: Wurz drove F1 medical car in Singapore . https://archive.today/20120904101902/http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1029895_wurz-drove-f1-medical-car-in-singapore . dead . 4 September 2012 . GMM . 28 September 2008 .
  19. Web site: Strang. Simon. Wurz set to lead Superfund into F1. Haymarket Publications. autosport.com. 2009-05-31. 2009-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20090605101536/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75753. 5 June 2009 . live.
  20. Web site: Wurz is father for third time – Racing news and opinions – Auto123.com – Canadian automotive network . 1 October 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071025034045/http://flagworld.auto123.com/en/racing/news/index,view.spy?artid=90131 . 25 October 2007 . dead .
  21. Web site: Ferrari assessing six drivers at Maranello in academy scouting final. Allen. Peter. FormulaScout. October 21, 2020. October 21, 2020.
  22. Web site: After 20yrs as Pro Racer its time to hang up the helmet. Thx Racing, you've been good to me!. alex. wurz. 10 November 2015.
  23. Web site: Formula Ford 1600 Germany 1992 standings Driver Database. 2021-02-17. www.driverdb.com.
  24. Web site: Alexander Wurz – 2010 American Le Mans Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. 27 August 2023.
  25. Web site: Alexander Wurz – 2011 American Le Mans Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. 27 August 2023.
  26. Web site: Intercontinental LeMans Cup – Season 2011: Results. Speedsport Magazine. 27 August 2023.