Wurz Too Tall for New McLaren

McLaren's Austrian test and reserve driver Alexander Wurz is too tall for their 2005 Formula One car.

"The team has taken the decision to optimise the chassis of next year's car...around race drivers Kimi Raikkonen, who is 1.75 metres tall, and Juan Pablo Montoya who is 1.68," said a McLaren spokesperson on Tuesday.

"As a result Alex currently does not fit comfortably into the MP4-20.

"The team is presently evaluating the modifications necessary to accommodate Alex in the 2005 chassis."

Wurz, a 30-year-old former Benetton race driver who has been a McLaren tester since the end of the 2000 season, measures 1.82 and has had difficulties fitting into previous cars. Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, who is considerably shorter, has also tested for McLaren this year.

"I already know I won't fit into the first few cars that will be made but I can continue testing with the MP4-19B," the ITV-F1 website quoted Wurz as saying.

"I hope as soon as the team starts making more chassis for the test team they'll be able to build them with more space in the cockpit so that I can have the possibility to work on the development of the MP4-20.

"But at the moment it's not certain that will be the case."

Wurz has also been linked to the new Red Bull Racing team owned by compatriot Dietrich Mateschitz but that drive is expected to go to former teammate David Coulthard, the Briton displaced by Montoya.

Montoya is moving from Williams and his pairing with Raikkonen, overall runner-up in 2003, promises to be a highlight of the new season. The test driver role will assume more importance for McLaren next year, despite a plan to halve the amount of in-season testing.

The Mercedes-powered team finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship this year, a major disappointment that will allow them however to run a third car in Friday practice sessions at Grands Prix.

Under rules introduced this year, designed to help out struggling independent teams, all but the top four are allowed to run an extra car provided the driver has competed in no more than six races in the previous two year period.

McLaren, former champions with two drivers who both won races this year, are planning to run a third car despite other teams suggesting that goes against the spirit of the regulations.

"The FIA regulations allow us to run a third car during Friday practice. Obviously at races where we consider running a third car will be to the team's advantage, we plan to do so," the spokesperson said.