Zoom Getting to grips with the new Honda challenger

Alex Wurz says he will be happy to step in and race for Honda if required in 2008, despite retiring as an active F1 racer last October.

The Austrian veteran will attend most races this year as the Japanese team's official reserve and test driver, having explained last year that he quit as a race driver because he began to have 'doubts' about his role at Williams.

"In such a hard fought environment as Formula One, I have always maintained that if you have a moment's doubt about what you are doing then it is time to stop," he said in October.

At the launch of Honda's new car for 2008 earlier this week, however, Wurz joked when it was put to him that he might have to rescind his race retirement at some point this season.

"How horrible!" he grinned. "Look, no problem. If someone calls me in the morning and tells me that Rubens or Jenson slipped cleaning the bathroom, then I will jump in.

"I know what to do and I will do it 100 percent," the 33-year-old added.

Wurz also explained that he has no hard feelings for the chiefs of the Williams team, despite his shock departure as race driver prior to the season finale last year.

"I really, really enjoyed my time at the team, and the way it looked - that it finished very suddenly - was definitely not how we are standing now," he said.

E.A.
Source GMM