Coulthard tips Wurz for ’major role’ in future

Alex Wurz has been tipped for a prominent management role in motor sport for the future.

Although recently announcing his retirement from actual racing, the former Benetton and Williams driver will shortly return to the cockpit in Daytona.

"They (Chip Ganassi) called me on the day I announced I was retiring," the 41-year-old told Racer. "I said ’The timing is a little odd, but I would love to do it’".

On Twitter, Wurz clarified that doing the famous 24 hour race is "cool, but (it’s) not a comeback".

Indeed, it is widely believed that Wurz, most recently a full-time sports car driver for Toyota, has cleared his calendar in order to focus on his off-track exploits.

He has a company involved in race circuit design and driver training, and is the highly-respected president of the F1 safety-oriented Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA).

"He does this (GPDA) away from the glare of publicity and receives little public recognition," David Coulthard, an F1 racing contemporary of Wurz’s, wrote in a column for the Telegraph.

Recently, Wurz had talks with Manor about becoming the backmarker team’s new boss following the departure of John Booth and Graeme Lowdon, but he turned it down.

Coulthard added: "He turned down the job of Manor team principal, but it is just a matter of time before big things happen.

"I have no doubt that one day he will find himself in a major role in motor sport. He is a credit to our sport," the Scot said.