It is rare that a successful 23-year professional motorsport career comes to a close with unanimous accord and genuine affection from all of his fellow professionals. But, in the case of Alex Wurz, it almost goes without saying that he fits perfectly into this exulted category.
A two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner (and still the youngest to have achieved this after his 1996 success), a podium visitor in F1 (with Benetton and Williams) and a mainstay of both Peugeot, and more recently Toyota’s LMP1 campaigns, Alex Wurz’s racing CV is as rich and as successful as any in the sport. He has been a consummate professional for over half of his life, and tasted success in every discipline of motorsport that he has raced in.
This weekend his professional driving career comes to an end at the Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain and, with it, ends a journey which has seen many fruitful working relationships.
“I have been lucky in so many ways, especially to be with some amazing teams and incredible projects,” said Wurz today. "You know, I am trying in some ways to treat this like a normal race this weekend but in the back of my mind I know it will be the last now. There have been moments, inside the team, and also at the drivers' briefing where my colleagues all clapped me. That is when it is quite emotional, which is unlike me really.”
Wurz is widely respected by those he works with, and Toyota Technical Director Pascal Vasselon did not hesitate to pay tribute to the first driver who was signed to race for Toyota in 2012.
“He brings so much to a race team,” Vasselon said. “Not only the skill, experience and technical ability, but also his communication and the way he forms relationships. He has been a huge asset and as you can see from his pace this weekend he is also going out at the top.”
It is not only his own team that value Alex Wurz, but also rivals on the track.
“Alex is a good friend and we train together, especially cycling together,” says Audi Sport Team Joest driver Lucas Di Grassi. “He is a great guy and actually he really introduced me to sportscars when I signed for Peugeot in 2011. It didn’t work out then, but in the last few years we have raced against each other. I would like to wish him all the best for the future and of course it will be a pleasure still to see him around the paddocks and tracks because there is so much else that he does, and will continue to do, in the sport.”
Probably the most apt and heartfelt words came from FIA WEC CEO, Gerard Neveu, at the driver's briefing this weekend. "Thank you champion".
These will be words echoed around Bahrain and also the entire racing industry when he steps out of his car for the final time this evening.
Sam Smith
A life in racing – Alex Wurz
*Prior to Six Hours of Bahrain
