Turkey: Wurz absent from Istanbul as Peugeot calls
By Phil Huff May 7 2008
Honda Racing F1's test and reserve driver, Alexander Wurz, will be absent from the Istanbul paddock this weekend. Instead of standing by for Honda, he'll be donning a Peugeot Sport race suit and driving the fearsome 908 HDi FAP at the 1,000km de Spa-Francorchamps.
Honda Racing F1's test and reserve driver, Alexander Wurz, will be absent from the Istanbul paddock this weekend. Instead of standing by for Honda, he'll be donning a Peugeot Sport race suit and driving the fearsome 908 HDi FAP at the 1,000km de Spa-Francorchamps.
The third round of the 2008 Le Mans Series calendar sees Alex Wurz and ex-BAR Honda racer Jacques Villeneuve team up for the race at the Spa circuit, assisting Peugeot in their aim to remain at the top of the constructors' championship, as well as preparing for an assault on the forthcoming Le Mans 24 Hour race.
The Austrian will share the number 8 car with its usual pairing, Pedro Lamy and Stephane Sarrazin, while Villeneuve will join Marc Gene and Nicolas Minassian in the N°7 908 HDi FAP.
Alexander WurzTest & Reserve DriverHonda Racing F1(and part-time Le Mans racer!)
"The last time I raced at Spa was in F1 in 2007 with Williams, while my last competitive outing dates back to last year's Chinese Grand Prix. Like most drivers, I love Spa. Its natural setting hugs the contours of the Belgian Ardennes and the only potential difficulty is the weather which can be different in different places round the track.
"I was commentating the Bahrain and Spanish Grands Prix for Austrian TV, so I couldn't follow the 908's runs at Barcelona and Monza, although I was on the internet to get the results as soon as I could. I was eager to see how the Peugeots would compare against the Audis, and I wasn't disappointed!
"The first time I saw the 908 I wanted to drive it. It looks great and I have been able to see for myself how consistently it has progressed each time I have tested it since the beginning of the year. The 908 sounds different to other cars I have driven because you don't rev so high with a diesel engine, but it's a genuine race car. The performance difference between the cars that race in the Le Mans Series doesn't bother me; it's simply a different sort of challenge. Instead of pushing as hard as possible from start to finish, you have to contend with the 'traffic'."
Alexander and Jacques will both be making their Le Mans Series debut with Peugeot, before moving on to the 24 Heures du Mans race on 14/15 June.
The Austrian will share the number 8 car with its usual pairing, Pedro Lamy and Stephane Sarrazin, while Villeneuve will join Marc Gene and Nicolas Minassian in the N°7 908 HDi FAP.
Alexander WurzTest & Reserve DriverHonda Racing F1(and part-time Le Mans racer!)"The last time I raced at Spa was in F1 in 2007 with Williams, while my last competitive outing dates back to last year's Chinese Grand Prix. Like most drivers, I love Spa. Its natural setting hugs the contours of the Belgian Ardennes and the only potential difficulty is the weather which can be different in different places round the track.
"I was commentating the Bahrain and Spanish Grands Prix for Austrian TV, so I couldn't follow the 908's runs at Barcelona and Monza, although I was on the internet to get the results as soon as I could. I was eager to see how the Peugeots would compare against the Audis, and I wasn't disappointed!
"The first time I saw the 908 I wanted to drive it. It looks great and I have been able to see for myself how consistently it has progressed each time I have tested it since the beginning of the year. The 908 sounds different to other cars I have driven because you don't rev so high with a diesel engine, but it's a genuine race car. The performance difference between the cars that race in the Le Mans Series doesn't bother me; it's simply a different sort of challenge. Instead of pushing as hard as possible from start to finish, you have to contend with the 'traffic'."
Alexander and Jacques will both be making their Le Mans Series debut with Peugeot, before moving on to the 24 Heures du Mans race on 14/15 June.
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