Despite being expected to remain with
Williams in a development capacity, Alex Wurz will instead represent the Honda camp in this year's Formula One world championship, having agreed to fill the team's vacancy as test and reserve driver.
The Austrian announced his retirement from
F1 racing after last year's Japanese Grand Prix, but had been expected to retain a testing role at Grove which he could perhaps combine with a return to sportscar competition. However, Wurz will now take his significant experience to
Honda, where he will replace countryman Christian Klien link up with renowned engineer and tactician Ross Brawn as the Brackley team attempts to rebuild after a disastrous 2007 campaign.
The 33-year old is considered to be one of the best development drivers in Formula One and will share track testing responsibilities with race drivers
Jenson Button and
Rubens Barrichello, forming the most experienced line-up currently competing in
Formula One. Despite his post-Fuji announcement, Wurz will also attend all of this season's races as reserve driver, and could yet add to his 69 grand prix starts should either Button or Barrichello be ruled out by illness or injury.
"We are delighted to welcome Alex to the Honda Racing F1 Team, and very pleased to have secured one of the most experienced development drivers in Formula One to support our race pairing," team principal Brawn commented, "Alex has eleven 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.
"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. We are looking forward to working closely with him over the coming months."
