From bad to Wurz (sorry)

Glen · 19 Sep 2003, 10:33 (Ref:723988)

Seems there are renewed rumours concerning Alex Wurz getting a Jaguar drive for 2004. Wilson was never offered anything beyond 2003, but he hasn't exactly had a lot of luck so far and has failed to prove himself (albeit against ultra-stiff competition from Webber). Exactly how they intend getting Wurz out of his (brand new) McLaren contract without vast expense is unexplained - all the more strange given the other recent rumours about Jaguar looking for a driver that will bring cash.

Whatever - silly season rules and all that. Would be a superb driver line-up, in my view. Webber and Wurz - even sounds good.

Tristan · 19 Sep 2003, 10:36 (Ref:723993)

"From bad to Wurz (sorry)"

It's a toss-up between McNish, Wurz and PDLR IMO. Plus all three deserve a race seat. But then if they're happy going round and round and round and...

ASCII Man · 19 Sep 2003, 10:37 (Ref:723996)

Wurz would be a much better choice than Verstappen, McNish or de la Rosa...

Mr V · 19 Sep 2003, 10:39 (Ref:723998)

Quote:

Originally posted by Glen
Exactly how they intend getting Wurz out of his (brand new) McLaren contract without vast expense is unexplained - all the more strange given the other recent rumours about Jaguar looking for a driver that will bring cash.

Glen, i was under the impression that when the line up for next season was announced, Wurz was allowed to leave if he had a race drive with another team.

**Adam43** · 19 Sep 2003, 10:41 (Ref:724001)

Getting out of his contract? Hmm I thought about that. It may be that Wurz has a clause that says if a race seat comes up he can leave. This is just a wild random guess to go with the wild silly season rumour!

This year 'silly' just isn't good enough to describe the silly season!

Out of all the names mentioned so far I think Wurz would be best for Jaguar, but at the moment I don't think it'll happen.

DriverT · 19 Sep 2003, 10:42 (Ref:724004)

Wurz would be better than the other suggested choices. But if Jaguar are serious about winning things, then they need a top-line driver, which Wurz is NOT. Maybe Villeneuve?

Glen · 19 Sep 2003, 10:45 (Ref:724007)

That would explain the contract thing - good luck to Alex, I think he's highly underrated and a nice bloke with it. It will be good to be able to judge Webber against a known quantity... as things stand he's looking nothing less than a future champion in waiting, but we need better (at least luckier!) team-mates to judge properly.

Glen · 19 Sep 2003, 10:47 (Ref:724011)

Quote:

Originally posted by DriverT
Wurz would be better than the other suggested choices. But if Jaguar are serious about winning things, then they need a top-line driver, which Wurz is NOT. Maybe Villeneuve?

That's the way to put the kiss of death on a team - wish Jacques on them!

Seriously, I can't imagine Villeneuve going to be Webber's team-mate, bearing mind how much damage Button has caused him.

Damon · 19 Sep 2003, 10:50 (Ref:724014)

Difficult one for Wurz, continue testing for a top flight team in the vague off chance that a race seat may materialise if he waits long enough, or go to Jaguar to race around in the mid-field and be trashed by Webber.

Mr V · 19 Sep 2003, 10:51 (Ref:724016)

Villeneuve, imo, is not the sort of driver that Jaguar would be looking for.

Wurz, on the other hand, has lots of knowledge of the McLaren and how the team operates, which makes him exactly the sort of driver that Jaguar would be looking for.

PaulSands · 19 Sep 2003, 10:52 (Ref:724017)

If they are strapped for cash keeping Wilson may be the best option as he would be cheapest driver going

DriverT · 19 Sep 2003, 10:54 (Ref:724019)

Maybe Baumgartner then?

Glen · 19 Sep 2003, 10:55 (Ref:724021)

Quote:

Originally posted by Damon
...or go to Jaguar to race around in the mid-field and be trashed by Webber.

Hmm - not so sure there. Wurz laps at just about the same pace as Kimi and DC all day long. Much of his poor reputation is undeserved and only came from a year in an overweight car. Most current cars are well under the limit so Wurz's size is next to irrelevant now. Jaguar have already accomodated Wilson, so height won't matter either. Webber needs to be tested and Wurz could be the ideal man to do it - McNish and Jos and PDLR are non-starters for me, as is Villeneuve (but for different reasons).

Mr V · 19 Sep 2003, 10:57 (Ref:724026)

McNish will be at Jordan imo, Jos isn't good enough, again, imo and i can't see PDLR going back to the team that sacked him, or as they had sacked him, why they would want PDLR back.

PaulSands · 19 Sep 2003, 11:01 (Ref:724027)

Wilson could test Webber but it was never going to happen coming into the team so late in the season
Whoever takes it to him will need to have been there from the styart of development of next years car and had a full round of winter testing under their belts

BSchneiderFan · 19 Sep 2003, 11:31 (Ref:724055)

I'd like to see Nishie get the drive but Wurz would seem to fit Jaguar's bill - testing experience with a top team, same size as Webber, backing from Superfund...

DriverT · 19 Sep 2003, 21:24 (Ref:724657)

Yeah it's a shame about Wilson though...

Phoenix1 · 19 Sep 2003, 21:30 (Ref:724663)

What Jaguar need, whoever they get is someone who can develop the car so either of the JV or Wurz would be good. yes it is strong but only one of the cars is strong and like Lotus did before it disappeared it seems only capable of being a one car team. They need to develop two cars.

enemy-ace · 20 Sep 2003, 02:12 (Ref:724777)

Of all the drivers in the picture for Jaguar i agree that Wurz is probably the best bet for Jaguar. He is said to be very technically astute (why else would Mclaren value him so highly), and I think he is seriously undervalued as a racer. He would be a good addition to Webber in the development of the car as well as push him on the track as well.
On the other hand if the Jag brass really wanted to see what Webber was made of (as he is their franchise player) they could throw Villeneuve at him. As long as Jag can give JV a car that doesn't have "osteoporosis" like BAR have, I'm pretty sure his presence would push Webber to even greater heights.
Heidfeld is another driver that would do well at Jaguar. He also fits Jags "german market". Of the three I think Heidfeld occupies the bottom of the list, simply because I don't think he is aggressive enough.

DavidStHubbins · 20 Sep 2003, 05:30 (Ref:724816)

I went on Jaguar-Racing.com just now to see what was going on and the site crashed on me... First time on it too. No joke. Bloody typical

Phoenix1 · 20 Sep 2003, 12:07 (Ref:724966)

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidStHubbins
I went on Jaguar-Racing.com just now to see what was going on and the site crashed on me... First time on it too. No joke. Bloody typical

You'll of been the second user on it!

f1manoz · 20 Sep 2003, 12:41 (Ref:724981)

If Heidfeld doesn't get the seat, then I think Wurz be more than adequate enough to fill in teh second seat besides our boy Webber.

DriverT · 20 Sep 2003, 16:03 (Ref:725040)

Yes, if Wilson is fired. Phoenix1, you know the server is a potato?

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