OCTOBER 8, 2000
Wurz agrees to McLaren test deal
AUSTRIAN Alexander Wurz has agreed to join McLaren for the 2001 Formula One World Championship as their official test driver.
Wurz, who will be replaced at Benetton by rookie Briton Jenson Button at the end of the year, had been touted as the most likely replacement for Frenchman Olivier Panis with the Woking-based team.
Panis will leave his test driver role in favor of a full drive alongside Jacques Villeneuve at British American Racing and 26-year-old Wurz, who has been with Benetton since 1997, will be hoping to follow the Frenchman in reviving his career with McLaren.
Wurz has scored just two points this season thanks to a fifth place finish in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.