Formula One: Austrian Alex Wurz has joined the Honda Formula One team as test and reserve driver after announcing his retirement from racing last season.
Honda said in a statement today that the 33-year-old, who raced
for Toyota-powered Williams last year, would start work with them
at the team's first test of the year in Valencia on January 22nd.
He will also attend all the races in his capacity as reserve.
"Alex has 11 years of top level experience in the sport and
this depth and breadth of knowledge will prove invaluable to us as
we aim to make Honda a competitive force in 2008," said new team
principal Ross Brawn.
"Alex will spend his first Honda test familiarising himself
with our team and the RA107 before moving on to play a crucial role
in the track development of the new RA108 car."
Wurz raced for Benetton, McLaren and Williams - all former
world champions - in a Formula One career which began in 1997.
He announced his retirement from "active racing in Formula
One" before the end of last season and was replaced at Williams for
the final Brazilian Grand Prix by Japan's Kazuki Nakajima.
"I have always maintained that if you have a moment's doubt
about what you are doing then it is time to stop," the Austrian had
said last October.
Honda have England's Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens
Barrichello as their race drivers for 2008.
"The chance to work with one of the best brains in F1 in Ross
Brawn is very exciting, as is the level of resources that the Honda
team has at its disposal," said Wurz.
"I am also looking forward to working with Jenson and Rubens,
two drivers whom I know very well, and I'm sure we will form a very
successful partnership over the coming weeks."