15/2/1974
Record updated 10-Mar-08
After working as a test driver for Williams in 2006, Wurz has replaced Mark Webber as a race driver for the 2007. This will be Wurz's first full F1 season since 2000.
Born in Waidhofen/Thaya in Lower Austria. He is the second son of former rallycross ace Franz Wurz (European Rallycross Champion 1974, 1976 and 1982).
Alex first tasted competition in the BMX World Championship and won it outright in 1986. This gave him an underlying physical fitness suitable for motor racing. He became the youngest ever winner of Le Mans, before moving up to Formula One.
As of the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix, he has participated in 53 grands prix, scoring a total of 32 championship points.
His debut was on June 15, 1997, filling in for fellow Austrian, Gerhard Berger. He impressed with a podium position in just his third race and was rewarded with a full race seat for the following season.
He spent the following three seasons driving for Benetton during which time it appeared that he was often outperformed by his team mate, Giancarlo Fisichella.
Unable to find a race seat at a leading team for 2001, he took on the role of test driver for McLaren. This is a role he has performed with distinction ever since. At various times he has been linked in rumours to a return to a full race seat. His large size for a Formula One driver has perhaps been a factor which has not helped.
In April 2005, with Juan Pablo Montoya injured, Wurz drove strongly 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 a unique record. No other driver has had such a long gap between podiums. Wurz went eight years. His drive at Imola was all the more notable because he was still not comfortable in the car, and at times had to drive with one hand.
Since his signing to McLaren as test driver, Wurz has been eager to return to racing. At various times during this time he was linked in rumours to a return to a full race seat. His large size for a Formula One driver (186cm/6'1) has perhaps been a factor that has not helped. In fact, because they were so sure he would be driving for Austrian-owned Red Bull Racing in 2005, the designers at McLaren neglected to allow for his size, meaning he could not physically fit in the car. In 2003 he was strongly linked to a race seat at Jaguar, where the under-fire Antonio Pizzonia was struggling. However, McLaren were struggling with their abortive new car and blocked the move to retain Alex's excellent technical and development skills. Jaguar then decided to give Pizzonia more time to prove himself, before drafting in Justin Wilson.
Wurz was Williams' third driver at the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix.Alexander Wurz signed a deal with Williams F1 to become the team's official test and reserve driver at the beginning of 2006. He drove the third car at all Grand Prix Fridays in 2006. It was announced on 3rd August 2006 that Wurz would replace Mark Webber as a race driver at Williams for the 2007 season. This is Wurz's first full time race drive since 2000, and his team mate is Nico Rosberg.
Wurz is married and has two sons, Charlie and Felix. He always races with different coloured boots on each foot.
wikipedia.org
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