OCTOBER 25, 2000

McLaren only intend to have one test driver - Wurz

AUSTRIAN Alexander Wurz has rubbished suggestions that McLaren planned to have a testing dream team next year and said that they only ever intended to appoint one test-driver.

Reports had suggested that the Woking-based team wanted Wurz, who lost his seat with Benetton to Jenson Button, and ousted British American Racing driver Ricardo Zonta to work in tandem on a rigorous testing program for 2001.

But 26-year-old Wurz, confirmed for the role during the Malaysian Grand Prix, has said that the team only wanted to appoint one driver to assist Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard.

"The intention was that there would be one test driver - because they can't have two," Wurz said. "There is only one program.

"I had to wait an awful long time to be announced even though the contract was signed many weeks ago.

"As the team said, they had to wait until the other drivers, who they had contacts with or good relationships with, revealed their futures."

Wurz also thanked Benetton for handing him his chance in Formula One and said that he will always have a special relationship with the Anglo-Italian team.

"I've been with Benetton for four years and they gave me my chance in Formula One," he said. "I will always have a special relationship with them but life is about moving on."