Wurz Set for Return to Le Mans Test Day in Toyota Reserve Driver Role

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Alex Wurz is set to return to the wheel of a Toyota, with the recently retired driver listed to take part in this weekend’s Le Mans Test Day.

The 42-year-old Austrian, who retired from active competition at the end of last year, is listed in both Toyota TS050 Hybrid entries for Sunday’s official test.

Wurz has been designated as the team’s reserve driver for the race and is expected to gain seat time in the event he will be needed for the race.

It will mark Wurz’s first outing in a top-level prototype since taking part in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona in a Chip Ganassi Racing Riley-Ford DP.

Both Audi and Porsche, meanwhile, will utilize reserve drivers competing in other categories in the race.

Rene Rast, who will drive the No. 26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 05 Nissan, is Audi’s designated reserve driver, while Porsche will be able to pull on reigning overall winners Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber, both competing in the Manthey-run Porsche 911 RSRs in GTE-Pro, should the need arise.

In addition to Wurz, there are a handful of other changes to the Test Day entry list.

Simon Gachet is listed as a fourth driver in the No. 23 Panis Barthez Competition Ligier JS P2 Nissan, while Dean Koutsoumidis will join the No. 34 Race Performance Oreca 03R Nissan, also as a permitted fourth driver for the test.

Joao Barbosa, Sebastien Bourdais and Scott Dixon, meanwhile, will miss the test due to their commitments this weekend in Detroit.

Barbosa, unlike nearly a dozen other IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers, will not make the overnight trip to Le Mans, while both Bourdais and Dixon will be taking part in Sunday’s IndyCar race in Belle Isle, preventing them from turning laps at the test.

All three drivers have been given exceptions due to their Platinum driver rating.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John