Wurz 'close' to F1 race seat

The Austrian, who last raced in Grands Prix with Benetton in 2000, says that he is talking to three teams and is particular close to one in his negotiations for 2003.

Unsurprisingly, Wurz was unwilling to name the team, but speculation suggests it is Toyota. The 28-year-old is said to have a good relationship with technical director and compatriot Gustav Brunner. And with his two years as McLaren's primary test driver, his experience would be attractive to a relatively new team.

"The annual F1 silly season has begun for 2003 contracts," said Wurz. "The market is currently in limbo, though waiting for the first moves to kick off. There are a few seats being targeted by a lot of drivers - and others will only be filled once these prime ones are gone. It seems that it is the teams rather than the drivers who are waiting. But the first move needs to start...

"My future will be with one of three teams. With one of them I am very close already, but the key question now is timing. I will see how things develop over the next 10 days and then will quite likely make a decision before Hockenheim."

McLaren has offered Wurz a lucrative three-year extension to his testing contract in a bid to stop him from signing for Toyota. But he has consistently made it clear that a return to racing is his priority. With David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen all but certain to remain at McLaren for next year, that chance is unlikely to come at the British team.