Wurz still safe despite Pizzonia claim.

Benetton driver Alex Wurz is still safe in his seat until at least the end of the year, despite a claim by British Formula 3 championship leader Antonio Pizzonia that he is still in the frame for a testing role within the team with an eye to replace Wurz before the end of the current season.

Pizzonia's claim is surprising when you consider that earlier in the week Benetton supremo Flavio Briatore stated that negotiations between his team and Pizzonia had broken down over the details of the Brazilian's contract.

Pizzonia was due to test the Benetton B200 at Jerez this week but never got into the car after Benetton insisted on signing him up to an exclusive deal. However Pizzonia was recently quoted as saying, ''I will definately be testing with Benetton but I don't know when at the moment.'' He also stated that his absence from Jerez was due to a prior testing commitment with his current F3 team Manor Motorsport.

However during the test at Jerez last week, Wurz finally showed some of the form he produced when he burst into Formula One mid way through the 1997 season, lapping quickest of all during the final day of the test on Thursday, a performance which should cement his place in the team until the end of the season.

Benetton also gave a run to young Italian karting star Giorgio Pantano who, despite only having 11 car races under his belt has become favourite to land a permanent testing role for the team as current test driver Hidetoshi Mitsusada faces the axe after a series of uninspiring performances in Formula 3000 this year.