Alex Wurz worked as McLaren's test driver the same time Kimi Räikkönen was their racing driver. The Austrian got once to be Kimi's team mate in Imola 2005, when Juan Pablo Montoya was recovering from his collarbone injury.
It didn't come as a giant surprise when tv-commentator Wurz told during Belgium GP to Turun Sanomat that he had recommended Räikkönen to try a Le Mans -car.
Two years ago Wurz won with Peugeot 908 Le Mans 24 hours together with David Brabham and Marc Gene. In 2010 Wurz had to retire. This year he was 4th.
15 years ago Wurz celebrated his bull's eye in Le Mans with Joest Racing -team's Porsche together with Manuel Reuter and Davy Jones.
Hence one could call Wurz a true Le Mans -veteran.
– Kimi would be a really pleasant team mate to me next year. I once told Kimi that he should try it because I know he likes that kind of racing, Wurz explained the backgrounds.
Now at least the test became true.
Laptimes are secrets
Räikkönen tested Peugeot 908 -car last Wednesday on Motorland Aragon's track in Spain. The French team has been very quiet about laptimes because they don't want any comparison between their drivers.
For example Wurz, Stephane Sarrazin and Franck Montagny drove in the same test.
– I didn't have time to chat with Kimi because he had already left when I arrived. I don't know about his laptimes but I did hear Kimi had a good test, Wurz said.
Wurz doesn't have a contract for next year himself either, yet he is already preparing for the race.
– I drove for six years in McLaren's tests and know Kimi's driving style so well that I don't think we would run into any problems we couldn't overcome, if we would drive in the same team. I am taller but I have raced together with Anthony Davidson and he is shorter than Kimi.
37-years old Wurz stopped his 69 GP-long career in F1 the same season as Kimi won the WDC in Ferrari 2007.
Inquiries about Aragon's testing times from Peugeot through L’Equipe -magazine didn't succeed. The French team only tells that Räikkönen had the same pace the other drivers also had.
Räikkönen himself said that driving the Le Mans -car was different from his earlier experiences.
– It is different. The twisting is of a class where the technical challenge in driving is different from other racing cars, Räikkönen stated.
Turun Sanomat, Spa
HEIKKI KULTA
Courtesy: Nicole
