Following his retirement from motorsport at the end of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship season in Bahrain last month, Alexander Wurz has moved into an advisory role with the Toyota team.
Wurz announced in the lead-up to the 6 Hours of Bahrain that he would be retiring from competitive racing after the event, where he signed off with a third-place finish.
The Austrian had been combining his racing duties with his work as chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association in Formula 1, but will now balance this role with an advisory position at Toyota.
“Toyota Gazoo Racing is proud to announce that Alex Wurz will take on a new role within its World Endurance Championship project,” a statement from the team read.
“Last month’s 6 Hours of Bahrain, in which Alex finished on the podium, was his final race behind the wheel. He will move into a new position as advisor and ambassador for the team.
“He will assist with driver and team development as well as promoting TOYOTA’s hybrid LMP1 technology at the race track and beyond. Already during his time as a driver with the team, Alex has made a substantial contribution in each of these areas.
“Alex will continue with various other activities, including his work in Formula 1, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, as well as his track design and driver training business.
“Today’s announcement extends Alex’s career at TOYOTA by at least two years and recognises the significant place he has in the team’s history.”
Wurz was pleased to take up the role, saying that the end of his motorsport ventures on-track did not mark the end of them off it.
“I always intended that the end of my racing career would not be the end of my active involvement in motorsport, so I am pleased to start a new chapter in my life with TOYOTA,” Wurz said.
“We have experienced a lot together since the beginning of this project and it is exciting to be part of the team’s future. With a new car coming in 2016 and the WEC going from strength to strength, there is a lot to be excited about as we fight to reclaim our place at the front.”