Williams hire Alexander Wurz as mentor driver

Retired Formula One driver Alexander Wurz has been hired by the Williams team to advise drivers Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado during the coming season, the English team said on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old competed in 69 Formula One races, initially for Benetton from 1997 to 2000, and was also test and reserve driver with McLaren for five years from 2001 to 2005 prior to joining Williams in 2006.

The Austrian subsequently moved into endurance racing and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2009 for a second time having previously achieved the feat in 1996.

Wurz, who is involved in road safety with the sport's world governing body, the FIA, will drive for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship this year.

"This is a great initiative by Williams and highlights just how hard the team is pushing to optimise its performance," said Wurz.

"Throughout my career as a sportsman, which started at the age of 12 in BMX racing and includes over a decade in F1 and is still ongoing, I am lucky to have gained so much experience.

"I grew up in a family business of driver training and naturally I enjoy helping fellow athletes to operate at their best.

"I'm really looking forward to using my expertise to help Williams at this important stage in its history."

Williams are bidding to restore pride after the worst season in their history last year, with Brazilian Senna and Venezuelan Maldonado, the least experienced duo in F1 this season which gets underway in Melbourne on March 18.