Alex Wurz calls time on career

Alex Wurz has announced that he will retire from driving at the end of the 2015 season after a career spanning more than 20 years.

Wurz, who was a world BMX champion before taking up motorsport, enjoyed spells in Formula Ford, Formula Three and DTM before moving into sports cars. He won two 24 Hours of Le Mans in his career, the first coming in 1996 with the Joest-run Porsche team - earning him the accolade of the race's youngest ever winner, a record which still stands.

The following year he made his F1 début, starting three races for Benetton deputising for compatriot Gerhard Berger. Although he only finished one of those races, he earned a podium finish there, earning him a full time seat for 1998.

The Austrian earned a further two podiums in Formula One before walking away from Grand Prix racing in 2007 after 69 starts with McLaren and Williams as well as Benetton.

A fruitful return to sports car racing, initially with Peugeot then Toyota, came after F1. He set another Le Mans record with the longest gap between wins after his 2009 triumph in the French classic. He also won another Petit Le Mans, and the 1000km of Spa as well as taking victories in Sao Paulo, Fuji, Shanghai, and Bahrain during his second endurance racing spell. 

In a statement on his official website, Wurz said: "I’ve enjoyed half of my lifetime competing at the top of motorsport and another quarter of it working my way up there, so I feel the time is right to call it a day and bring my career as a professional racing driver to a close."

"I’ve a lot to be grateful for and a lot I’m proud of," he added. "My two Le Mans wins will always be the most special and unforgettable, along with the Silverstone podium in my 3rd Formula 1 race."

Although Wurz's driving career will be coming to an end after this month's Six Hours of Bahrain, the 41-year-old insists that his motorsport career will continue after he hangs up his helmet.

"My future will still evolve around racing, its in my blood after all," he said. "Anyone who knows me, knows that I always have lots of projects on the go which includes growing my road safety and race track design business."



Image: Toyota Gazoo Racing

Ferrari unveil new 488 GTE and GT3 cars at Finali Mondiali

Ferrari have taken the wraps off their latest GT race cars at their annual 'World Finals' (Finali Mondiali) event at the Mugello circuit in Italy.

Deliveries of the cars, developed by Ferrari GT partner Michelotto and based on Ferrari's 488GTB road car, will begin in 2016 with their competition début slated for January's 24 Hours of Daytona.

"We will probably début there, and although it has not been decided yet, it is our goal. Then we will enter all the important races, starting from the ones in the US and then in the WEC," said Ferrari’s GT and Corse Clienti racing director Antonello Coletta. “We still have some pivotal [test] sessions scheduled in our path towards the Daytona 24 Hours." 

Both Prancing Horses are powered by variants of the Italian manufacturer's 3.9 litre V8 engine, the GTE featuring a race prepared unit as opposed to the GT3's production-based engine, although the pair will produce considerably less power than the road car's output of 660 horsepower to meet racing regulations.

The 488 GTE will also feature less aero than the GT3 variant, in line with the FIA and ACO's new regulations for GTE cars.

"This new aspect has led to a series of studies we started a while ago. We had to analyse fuel consumption, the engine’s ECU mappings and lots of work has also been made on the aerodynamic front," said Coletta. "The aero study behind this car is much more refined compared to the previous model."

Ferrari expect to produce 150 cars within the car's lifetime, with the GT3 variant eligible to compete in over 20 championships worldwide.

The new car was unveiled by Ferrari's GT driver roster on Saturday before being demonstrated on track the following day.

Also in action at Finali Mondiali was Ferrari's Formula One team. Drivers Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Esteban Gutierrez and Marc Gene all took to the track in Grand Prix cars for a high speed demonstration with pit stops and donuts.



Images: Ferrari Media

Gutierrez, Grosjean to race for Haas in 2016

Confirming what was possibly the worst kept secret in Formula One, Haas F1 Team have revealed that Esteban Gutierrez will join Romain Grosjean at the American team in 2016.

Gutierrez, a current Ferrari reserve driver, has been widely expected to be one of the team's drivers for some time with his significant financial backing, North American nationality and links to Ferrari - who will be supplying the new team with a number of components, including engines, next season - making him a form favourite for a seat with the North Carolina-based team.

The Mexican driver's signing was announced in Mexico City on the Friday evening of the Mexico Grand Prix weekend, returning to the calendar for the first time since 1992.

"I am very grateful to Gene (Haas)," said the former GP3 champion. "I believe that together we can achieve many great things"

Having made his F1 début in 2013 with Sauber, the 24-year-old, has spent this year as a test and reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari. Despite having the opportunity to work with the most prestigious team on the Formula One grid, Gutierrez is looking forward to being back in a race seat next season.

"I'm very hungry to return to the wheel," he said. "I learned a lot this year and the project will be very important."

Gutierrez joins Grosjean who was announced at the team last month, beating the likes of Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen and Alexander Rossi who were also linked with the drive.

Speaking on the announcement of the Swiss-born Frenchman, team founder Gene Haas said, "We were looking for an experienced driver and Romain was one of several candidates."

"He’s been in Formula One for many years, he’s been an excellent driver for team Lotus."



Image: Ferrari Media

Porsche to test Magnussen, Evans, Turvey, Montoya

Kevin Magnuessen will test for Porsche's LMP1 World Endurance Championship team next month in Barcelona, although the team have played down the significance of the test in the wake of McLaren's decision to release the Dane.

Porsche could be on the look out for a replacement driver for their third Le Mans entry after a potential clash between Formula One's European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan and the WEC's landmark event, the Le Mans 24 Hours, could rule out a return for Nico Hulkenberg.

However, Porsche insist they will continue to wait in case changes to the F1 calendar are made and the test is nothing more than an evaluation.

We are still hoping for a solution on the calendar and we have some [time] before we have to make a decision on Nico," said a spokesperson for the German manufacturer. "This is a general test at which we are giving some new guys a chance rather than a test because we are looking for a driver for the third car at Le Mans."

Joining Magnussen in Spain will be GP2 race winner Mitch Evans and fellow McLaren F1 tester Oliver Turvey, both of which drove for the Jota LMP2 team at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.

"We decided to give three young drivers a chance to test the Porsche 919 Hybrid," said team principal Andreas Seidl. "The seat fit and simulator preparation is already done. We are looking forward to the test and will see what the future brings."

The young trio are not the only drivers who will get to sample the Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid in November, with two time Indy 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya set to get a run out in the car in Bahrain in the post-season finale test - which Evans will also participate in.

Montoya, who has also won the Monaco Grand Prix, is the driver best placed to emulate Graham Hill's historic triple-crown. Should he ever win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he will become only the second driver to win motorsport's three biggest events.

Montoya has reportedly expressed an interest in driving for the sports car outfit once his open wheel career is over. He currently has a year remaining on his IndyCar contract with Team Penske



Image: Dominik Wilde

Booth and Lowdon to leave Manor

Manor F1 bossed John Booth and Graeme Lowdon have tendered their resignations and will leave the British team at the end of the 2015 season.

Founder and team principal Booth and president Lowdon are said to have a difference of opinion with the minnows' new owner Stephen Fitzpatrick about the progression of the team.

Ovo Energy boss Fitzpatrick, who rescued the team from bankruptcy last winter, is believed to be funding the team out of his own pocket with an estimated £30 million of his fortune already poured into the team. Fitzpatrick and business partner Abdulla Boulsien have apparently been increasingly distancing themselves from Booth and Lowdon, promoting the pair to leave the team.

Although Booth, Lowdon and Manor have yet to comment ont he situation, the pair will remain in charge of the team for the rest of the season before seeking pastures new, possibly in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Unless a dramatic U-turn takes place, Booth and Lowdon will leave the team they have been a part of together since the team entered Formula One (under the Virgin Racing banner) in 2010. More team members could follow them through the exit door.



Image: Manor F1 Team (Twitter)

Aston Martin set to make F1 return

The Aston Martin name looks set to return to the Formula One grid in 2016 after more than half a century away.

The British marque, who competed in 1959 and 1960, is believed to be close to a deal with Sahara Force India to re-brand the Silverstone team.

Force India were not the only team in talks with Aston Martin, with Williams and Red Bull Racing before settling with Vijay Mallya's outfit.

Mercedes, who currently supply Force India with engines, have given the new partnership their blessing. This was something to be expected with the German manufacturer owning a five percent stake in Aston Martin.

Although the tie-up is expected to go ahead, Force India are yet to confirm anything with team owner Mallya saying at this weekend's Mexico Grand Prix, "It's premature to talk about it now, but we're talking. Nothing is done until it's done. I don't like to count my chickens until they are hatched."



Image: Dominik Wilde