Wurz Still Hopes to Return to Racing

Austrian Alex Wurz says he still hopes to secure a full time Formula One drive after a recent approach by Jaguar fell through.

"If I gave up on (the hope of) race driving I wouldn't be able to even test," the McLaren test and reserve driver said at what could be the last Austrian Grand Prix. "That's my driving motivation.

"Every race I am not racing is frustrating. It would be really cool to be (racing) here, a home race for the fans in Austria, because Austria is mad about Formula One."

Wurz, a former Benetton driver, was approached by Jaguar before the last race in Spain as a possible replacement for struggling Brazilian rookie Antonio Pizzonia. Pizzonia was later confirmed for the rest of the season after McLaren set terms for Wurz's release.

"I don't know what the future is bringing and for me the chapter is closed now," said Wurz.

The Austrian said he was now concentrating fully on developing McLaren's new car, which he will be the first to try at a shakedown test at the Le Castellet circuit in southern France next Wednesday.

"I will start next week and I am the first and only one to drive it for the first few tests," he said. "When it is somewhere nearly sorted then the race drivers take over."