Alexander Wurz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Wurz
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Wurz at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans
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| Born |
Alexander Georg Wurz
15 February 1974 Waidhofen an der Thaya, Lower Austria, Austria
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| Spouse(s) |
Julia Horden
(m. 2002) |
| Children | 3, including Charlie and Oscar |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Austrian |
| Active years | 1997–2000, 2005, 2007 |
| Teams | Benetton, McLaren, Williams |
| Entries | 69 (69 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 3 |
| Career points | 45 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 1997 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2007 Chinese Grand Prix |
| FIA World Endurance Championship career | |
| Years active | 2012–2015 |
| Teams | Toyota |
| Starts | 28 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 5 |
| Podiums | 12 |
| Poles | 8 |
| Best finish | 3rd in 2012 (LMP1) |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1996, 2008–2015 |
| Teams | Joest, Peugeot, Toyota |
| Best finish | 1st (1996, 2009) |
| Class wins | 2 (1996, 2009) |
Alexander Georg Wurz (born February 15, 1974) is a former racing driver from Austria. He competed in Formula One races between 1997 and 2007. Alexander is also a two-time winner of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, winning in 1996 and 2009.
After his racing career, Wurz became a TV commentator. He also became the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, which is like a union for Formula One drivers.
Contents
Early Life and BMX Success
Alexander Wurz was born in Waidhofen an der Thaya, Austria. His father, Franz Wurz, was also a famous rallycross driver. Franz won the European Rallycross Championship three times.
When Alexander was young, he was a talented cyclist. He even won the BMX World Championship in 1986 when he was just 12 years old!
Junior Racing Career
Like many Formula One drivers, Alexander started his racing journey in karting. In 1991, he moved on to Formula Ford cars. By 1993, he was racing in the German Formula Three Championship.
A big moment in his early career happened in 1996. Alexander, along with Davy Jones and Manuel Reuter, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. This made him the youngest winner ever of this tough 24-hour race, a record he still holds today.
Formula One Career
Racing with Benetton (1997–2000)
Alexander Wurz made his Formula One debut on June 15, 1997, in Montreal, Canada. He was filling in for another Austrian driver, Gerhard Berger, who was sick. In only his third race, the 1997 British Grand Prix, Wurz finished on the podium in third place! After that, he went back to being a test driver when Berger returned.
For the 1998 season, Wurz got a full-time racing spot with the Benetton team. He raced for three more seasons with them. In 1998, he even scored more points than his teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella. At the 1998 Monaco Grand Prix, he was running in second place for a short time. However, his race ended when Michael Schumacher crashed into him.
The 1999 and 2000 seasons were not as successful for Benetton. Wurz only scored points in one race in 2000. For the 2001 season, he was replaced by Jenson Button.
McLaren Test Driver (2001–2005)
From 2001 to 2005, Alexander Wurz worked as a test driver for the McLaren Formula One team. Test drivers help develop the car and practice for the main racers.
In April 2005, one of McLaren's main drivers, Juan Pablo Montoya, was injured. Wurz stepped in to race at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix. He finished fourth, but then moved up to third place after two other drivers were disqualified. This podium finish set a record for the longest time between podiums for a driver, at eight years!
Driving for Williams (2006–2007)
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In 2006, Wurz joined the Williams team as their official test and reserve driver. He drove the third car during practice sessions on Fridays. On August 3, 2006, it was announced that Wurz would become a full-time race driver for Williams in the 2007 season. This was his first full-time racing role since 2000. His teammate was Nico Rosberg.
At the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2007, Wurz scored his first points for Williams. He finished seventh after starting 11th. He then achieved his third Formula One podium finish at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, starting from 19th place!
On October 8, 2007, Alexander Wurz announced he was immediately retiring from Formula One. He said he had doubts about his own commitment to racing. His last race was the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix.
Honda and Brawn Test Driver (2008–2009)
After leaving Williams, Wurz became a test driver for the Honda F1 team in 2008. He continued this role when the team changed to Brawn GP in 2009. In 2008, he even drove the medical car at the Singapore Grand Prix when the regular driver was ill.
Alexander Wurz did not return to Formula One after the 2009 season. In 2012, he rejoined Williams as a mentor for their younger drivers.
Other Racing Adventures
Sportscar Racing Success
Alexander Wurz also had a very successful career in sportscar racing. In 2008, he joined Peugeot to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 2009, he won the Le Mans 24 Hours again with teammates Marc Gené and David Brabham, driving for Peugeot. This victory meant there was a 13-year gap between his two Le Mans wins, which is the longest gap in the race's history! He also won other big sportscar races like the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 1000 Miles of Road Atlanta.
In November 2011, Toyota Motorsports announced that Wurz would be one of their factory drivers. He raced their new hybrid prototype car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans starting in 2012.
Rallycross
In May 2018, Wurz decided to try something new: rallycross! He followed in his father's footsteps by competing in the FIA World Rallycross Championship in Norway. He drove a Ford Fiesta Supercar for MJP Racing Team Austria.
Other Ventures and Contributions
TV Commentator
Since 2008, Alexander Wurz has worked as a racing expert for Austria's TV broadcaster, ORF. He helps explain Formula One races to viewers.
Grand Prix Drivers' Association Chairman
Since October 2014, Wurz has been the Chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA). This group represents the interests of Formula One drivers. He is the longest-serving head of this organization. He strongly supported the use of the "Halo" cockpit protection device, which helps keep drivers safe.
FIA Safety Commission
Alexander Wurz is also an active member of the FIA safety commissions. The FIA is the main organization for motorsports. In this role, he helps make racing tracks safer and works on other safety projects. He often talks with FIA leaders about important safety issues.
Rainer-Wurz.com Mountain Bike Team
In 2000, Wurz started a mountain bike team with Markus Rainer. The team, called Rainer-Wurz.com, has won the World Cup several times. It was sponsored by companies like McLaren and Siemens. There was even a special mountain bike named after him, the Alexander Wurz EVO SL.
Road Safety Advocate
In 2006, Alexander and his father started a company called Test and Training International (TTI). This company focuses on making roads safer and training drivers. Wurz also works closely with the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.
In 2015, TTI received a special award, the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. Their driver training programs were called "best in the world." Their training standards have even helped shape road safety laws in several countries.
Circuit Design
Wurz also uses his racing knowledge to design race tracks. His company, Wurz Design, creates tracks for different types of racing, including Formula One, motorbikes, and rallycross. He has worked on big projects like the upcoming Qiddiya Speed Park in Saudi Arabia.
Personal Life
Alexander Wurz lives in Monaco. He is married to Julia Horden, and they have three sons: Charlie, Felix, and Oscar. Interestingly, he used to race with different colored boots on each foot! However, when he returned to racing in 2007, he started wearing matching pairs. His oldest son, Charlie, and youngest son, Oscar, have also become racing drivers.
Images for kids
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Wurz at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans
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Walk of Fame – Le Mans, Handprints and signatures from the winners of the 1996 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
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Wurz at the 1997 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
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Wurz (right) was a test driver for McLaren from 2001 to 2005. He raced for the team once at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix.
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Wurz at the 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix.
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Wurz demonstrating a Honda RA108 at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
See also
In Spanish: Alex Wurz para niños
