Nakajima replaces Wurz for Brazil

We reported it yesterday, Wurz officially announced his retirement through official channels, effective immediately. The Williams team, which employed the Austrian, was left with only one driver to race in the last GP of the season in Brazil.

The British team officially announced today that Kazuki Nakajima will replace Wurz for the final of this 2007 season.

This 22-year-old Japanese, who showcased his talents this year in GP2, covered over 7,000 kilometers as a test driver during private tests throughout the year. He was also recently an occasional driver during the free practice sessions 1 and 2 on Fridays throughout 2007.

Williams admits, however, that Nakajima, who will be alongside Nico Rosberg at Interlagos, will gain experience in F1 but does not consider that this Brazilian event will secure him a seat for 2008.

The announcement, however, coincided with some speculation from the supplier Toyota, which equips Williams engines and supports the son of former driver Satoru Nakajima. Indeed, Toyota reportedly requested that Kazuki replace Wurz for the last event of the year.

Worse, this request would have led Wurz more quickly to the exit door. If this were the case, we’re talking about a six-figure financial compensation for the ex-driver as “damages”!

Frank Williams commented in a report: « You cannot assess a driver’s abilities based on a single race, but it is an ideal opportunity to develop Kazuki’s experience. »