Alexander Wurz is newly retired and very busy. At the WEC Prologue at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, he is embracing his new function in the Toyota team's management and with the drivers he now coaches.

Alexander Wurz: "For me, it's a soft landing since I am continuing to do development tests. I always enjoy the feeling of a new car but, now, I like even more seeing the smiles on the drivers' faces as they climb out of the cockpit. Their eyes sparkle, that's a great reward!" This isn't the first time he has been at pit wall because he already experienced a similar situation during his career. "I already did this in F1 when I worked in testing driver quality. I do not have a problem being outside the car because that's what I wanted. I'm sure there will be times when I miss racing, but it was time for me to start a new chapter in my life."

A chapter in which Toyota and the 24 Hours of Le Mans will hold a very important place. "I am lending a hand wherever I can. Some development at the wheel, a little teaching with young drivers to help them understand the technology and the influence it has on driving. I have been involved in development since 2013, I know all the systems of the car and can create links between the drivers' emotional highs and the needs in terms of engineering. Sometimes it's intense, whereas other times it's about simply sitting down and taking a look. During races when I feel like I have something to bring that would make the process more efficient, I intervene. In an ideal world, there is nothing for me to do or say because everything is working perfectly, but unfortunately that is not always the case. When I intervene it's because there are small concerns. It would be nice to have an extra brain!"

It's certain that at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which he won twice, his help will be invaluable. Leading up to this year's edition, the all-new TS050 will be the focus of all his attention. "This Prologue is promising. We conducted rather extreme tests during the first day yesterday that did not show the performance level of the car. That will also be the case today for the second day. There is a lot to gain in terms of time. We are back in the game, but we will have to wait until the first race to realize our potential!"

Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO