Wurz backs Williams to shine

Alex Wurz believes Williams’ new car is everything they need to return to the top in Formula One – if they can make the most of it.

Test driver Wurz tested the new Cosworth-powered car for the first time yesterday and set the fastest time of the day at Jerez, going faster than the new Hondas and Toyotas.

The ex-McLaren man, whose input helped his former team challenge for the world championship last season, was impressed with the new Williams.

He said: “I drove the 2006 car for the first time. I soon familiarised myself with the new characteristics, which my lap times showed, and I feel quite comfortable with it already.

“Nevertheless, I am a perfectionist and that means that we need to do some more work to extract more out of our package.

“The basic elements are there, now it’s just a race against time to optimise everything before the season opener. We’ll be pushing flat out.”