ALEX WURZ ON THE SPOT
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ITV Sport's F1 pit lane reporter Louise Goodman is always on the trail of the sport's stars to find out what makes them tick. For her latest interview she tracked down Williams driver and race returnee Alex Wurz.
What’s the best thing about being back in a race seat?
The thrill and excitement of racing, mostly, but all the build-up and the process of the weekend is really nice too – working with the mechanics, planning out the strategy. It’s a challenge, and that’s what I love.
Is there a worst thing?
No there isn’t. If you were lazy you could say its much more work and much less free time but that’s not a down side.
Qualifying seems to be your Achilles heel at the moment – is there a particular area of it that you are struggling to get to grips with?
The numbers don’t look very good – I know that – but if you look at the details I am fighting here for very little bits of lap time.
For me it’s an issue with the new tyre – it’s the brake/turn-in phase and this is very important in Formula 1 because the competition is so strong and within one or two tenths you’re hero or zero.
That’s all it is though. There are no major issues; I’m relaxed, I know I can do it and the race speed is always there.
The qualifying is something I have to work on because that will unleash many more possibilities because of my strong race performance.
And now for the trivia…
What’s your nickname?
I don’t have one – just Alex. Well, there’s another one that my wife calls me when the lights are off but I’m not telling you that.
Which racing car, past or present, would you most like to drive?
I think that Group C cars are really the most sexy race cars. I love sportscars and I would love to have driven the latest one that Sauber made for Mercedes which was never raced, because I heard that it had phenomenal downforce.
Mansell or Piquet?
I always was for Piquet because of his helmet design.
Which is your favourite race of all time and why?
Le Mans. It’s a historical race, it’s a fantastic challenge for man and machine – it’s got something about it that I always loved from childhood up to now. No particular year – just Le Mans in general.
What’s your favourite item of clothing?
Just jeans I guess.
What’s your least favourite food?
Indian
Who would you most like to get stuck in a lift with?
A technician who could fix it.
What was the last great party you went to?
My wife Julia made a surprise ‘Podium’ party for me when I came back from Indy to celebrate my result in Canada.
She invited all my friends; they came from Austria and Switzerland – even from New Zealand.
It was on the beach – which is typical for us because I like to be relaxed rather than formal. It was ultra-funny, and I have to thank her for this. We had a really super time.
What’s your favourite song?
Oh, that changes almost every day. The Foo Fighters are always good though.
What are you frightened of?
My wife being in the driver’s seat and me in the passenger’s seat!
What’s your greatest achievement outside racing?
Definitely my two kids and my family.
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Linked from http://www.formula1.com/news/5998.html --- Williams' Alex Wurz has spoken before the... Read Full Story »
