Motor Racing: Montoya Injury Hands Wurz His Chance

Juan Pablo Montoya will miss the San Marino grand prix on Sunday, handing the Austrian driver Alex Wurz a chance to revive his formula one reputation at Imola.

The Colombian is still recovering from the shoulder injury which kept him out of the Bahrain grand prix. Wurz will join Kimi Raikkonen in the McLaren-Mercedes line-up for his first race in more than four seasons. The former Benetton driver has been chosen over McLaren's other test driver Pedro de la Rosa, who replaced Montoya in Bahrain and finished fifth.

Wurz contested a total of 52 grands prix for Benetton between 1997 and 2000, his best result being third in the 1997 British grand prix.

"I am really happy to have the opportunity," said the Austrian, who last raced in the 2000 Malaysian grand prix. "Since joining the team at the end of 2000 I have completed over 70,000 testing kilometres and it will be great to have the chance to race a McLaren."

Montoya had a series of scans this week and McLaren's medical experts advised him to miss San Marino in the hope of being fit for the Spanish grand prix on May 8.

Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren chief executive officer, said: "It is imperative his shoulder heals properly to ensure no additional risk. We will assess the situation next week but we are optimistic he will return for the Spanish grand prix."