Alexander Wurz

File:Hall of fame Le Mans-winners 1996.JPG, Handprints and signatures from the winners of the 1996 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans]]

Alexander Georg Wurz was born on 15 February 1974 in Waidhofen an der Thaya, Lower Austria. He is the second son of former rallycross driver Franz Wurz, who won the European Rallycross Championship in 1974, 1976 and 1982. Wurz competed in cycling events in his youth, and won the BMX World Championship in 1986 at the age of 12.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8lutheieVs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/B8lutheieVs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Safety car hits Wurz|website=YouTube|date=December 2008 }}{{cbignore}} 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.{{cite journal |date=18 June 2009|title=Third-time plucky for Peugeot |journal=Autosport |volume=196 |issue=12 |pages=36–47}}

File:Wurz at Silverstone.jpg at Silverstone.]]

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.F1 Racing magazine, December 1997, pg 46 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.

File:McLarens 2005 San Marino.jpg for McLaren from {{F1|2001}} to {{F1|2005}}, competing for the team once at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix.]]

In {{f1|2001}}, Wurz was a test driver for McLaren. In {{f1|2002}}, he was almost promoted as race driver 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 {{F1|2003}} 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.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} Jaguar then decided to give Pizzonia more time to prove himself, before drafting in Justin Wilson.

File:Alex Wurz 2007 (crop).jpg.]]

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 {{f1|2006}}. It was announced on 3 August 2006 that Wurz would replace Mark Webber as a race driver at Williams for the {{f1|2007}} 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.{{cite news| title =Wurz confirms immediate retirement from F1| publisher =autosport.com| url =http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63165| date =8 October 2007| access-date =8 October 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071011014535/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63165| archive-date= 11 October 2007 | url-status= live}} He cited doubts over his own commitment as the main reason for his departure.{{Cite web|url=http://dedhost-s-sil-057.sil.at/www.alexwurz.com/en/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011022106/http://dedhost-s-sil-057.sil.at/www.alexwurz.com/en/|url-status=dead|title=Wurz retirement statement|archive-date=11 October 2007}} He was replaced by Williams test driver Kazuki Nakajima for the final race of the 2007 season in Brazil.{{cite news| title =Williams confirm Nakajima for Brazil| publisher =autosport.com| url =http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63168| date =9 October 2007| access-date =9 October 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071011020255/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63168| archive-date= 11 October 2007 | url-status= live}}

File:Wurz Goodwood 2008.jpg at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.]]

Wurz was the Honda F1 test driver for the 2008 Formula One season,{{cite news| title =Wurz joins Honda as test & reserve driver | url = http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64586 | publisher = autosport.com |date=10 January 2008}} a role he kept when the team became Brawn GP in {{F1|2009}}.{{cite news| title =Wurz retains ties to Brawn GP| url = http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74035 | publisher = autosport.com |date=29 March 2009}} In the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Wurz drove the medical car after regular driver Jacques Tropenat fell ill.{{cite news | title = Wurz drove F1 medical car in Singapore | url = http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1029895_wurz-drove-f1-medical-car-in-singapore | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120904101902/http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1029895_wurz-drove-f1-medical-car-in-singapore | url-status = dead | archive-date = 4 September 2012 | publisher = GMM | date = 28 September 2008 }}

Wurz did not return to Formula One after the 2009 season. He re-joined Williams in {{F1|2012}} as a mentor for the team's inexperienced drivers: Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado.{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12476/7534659/Wurz-to-mentor-Williams-duo |title=Wurz to mentor Williams duo | Williams F1 Team News | Formula 1 Teams | Sky Sports |year=2012 |access-date=28 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302055800/http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12476/7534659/Wurz-to-mentor-Williams-duo |archive-date=2 March 2012 }}

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.{{cite news| title =Peugeot win Le Mans 24-hour race | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/8099543.stm | publisher = BBC |date=2009-06-14}} The 13-year gap between Wurz's victories is the largest in the event's history. 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/1/2010%20Sebring%20ALMS%20Results.pdf |title=2010 Race Results |access-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409182728/http://www.americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/1/2010%20Sebring%20ALMS%20Results.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.americanlemans.com/files/results/2011/ALMS%20Petit%20Final%20Race.pdf |title=Final Race Report |access-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127000212/http://americanlemans.com/files/results/2011/ALMS%20Petit%20Final%20Race.pdf |archive-date=27 January 2012 }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.motorstv.com/car/endurance/07112011/wurz-ditches-peugeot-lead-toyota-le-mans-assault |title=Wurz ditches Peugeot to lead Toyota Le Mans assault |access-date=15 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402021413/http://www.motorstv.com/car/endurance/07112011/wurz-ditches-peugeot-lead-toyota-le-mans-assault |archive-date=2 April 2012 }} Wurz will drive their new LMP1 Hybrid Prototype alongside Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima.[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]

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.autosport.com/wrx/news/136111/wurz-joins-world-rallycross-field-for-hell |title=Ex-F1 driver and Le Mans winner Alex Wurz to contest World RX round |last=Ridge |first=Hal |date=18 May 2018 |website=autosport.com |access-date=20 May 2018}}

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.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} 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.{{cite news| title =Mountain-bike Alexander Wurz Edition| publisher =Veni, vidi, velo!| url =http://ciclist.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/bicicleta-alexander-wurz-edition/| date =21 April 2014| access-date =1 May 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140502005635/http://ciclist.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/bicicleta-alexander-wurz-edition/| archive-date =2 May 2014| url-status =dead}}

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.

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.{{cite web|last=Strang|first=Simon|title=Wurz set to lead Superfund into F1|publisher=Haymarket Publications|work=autosport.com|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75753|date=2009-05-31|access-date=2009-05-31| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090605101536/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75753| archive-date= 5 June 2009 | url-status= live}} The team would have been funded by Christian Baha, the owner of the Superfund Group, and the cars would be powered by Cosworth engines.

In the early 2020s, Wurz founded a racing circuit design company. The company designed Qiddiya Speed Park, set to become the venue of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from 2027 onwards. He has also worked on designs for a proposed Grand Prix in Rwanda.{{cite web | url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/rwanda-launches-official-bid-for-f1-race-at-wurz-designed-track/10682184/ | title=Rwanda launches official bid for F1 race at Wurz-designed track }}

Wurz resides in Monaco, is married to Julia Horden and has three sons: Charlie, Felix and Oscar.{{Cite web |url=http://flagworld.auto123.com/en/racing/news/index,view.spy?artid=90131 |title=Wurz is father for third time – Racing news and opinions – Auto123.com – Canadian automotive network |access-date=1 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025034045/http://flagworld.auto123.com/en/racing/news/index,view.spy?artid=90131 |archive-date=25 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://formulascout.com/ferrari-assessing-six-drivers-at-maranello-in-academy-scouting-final/69799|title=Ferrari assessing six drivers at Maranello in academy scouting final|last=Allen|first=Peter|work=FormulaScout|date=October 21, 2020|access-date=October 21, 2020}} He used to race with different coloured boots on each foot,{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/motor-racing-superstitions/|title=Motor racing superstitions

|first=Rob|last=Widdows|date=13 January 2012}} but after his return to racing in 2007, he wore matching pairs. His eldest son, Charlie, has competed in FIA Formula 3 for Jenzer and Trident, and his youngest son, Oscar, won the 2024 Formula 4 CEZ Championship.

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

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

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

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

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

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

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

(key)

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons|Alexander Wurz}}

• {{Official website|http://www.alexwurz.com/}}
• {{DriverDB driver|alex-wurz}}
• interview: [http://audio.rpix.org.uk/tlo/tlo11_wurz.mp3 Tyler's Long One: Alex Wurz], interviewer: [http://radiolemans.0157.org/content/tylers-long-one Graham Tyler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903010007/http://radiolemans.0157.org/content/tylers-long-one |date=3 September 2011 }},

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{{succession box|title=Austria Formula 3 Cup
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{{succession box|title= Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans|before= Yannick Dalmas
JJ Lehto
Masanori Sekiya|after= Michele Alboreto
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{{succession box|title= Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans|before= Allan McNish
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