MP4-18 crash set back for McLaren.

Team McLaren Mercedes third driver Alexander Wurz has escaped unhurt, following an accident this morning at Jerez, while testing the Woking based concern's new car, the MP4-18.

A statement released by McLaren noted that: "Initial feedback suggests the accident was not due to mechanical failure."

The team added: "As a matter of course Alex was taken to the medical centre at the circuit, but he has been released and is fine, having only suffered minor bruising.

"The MP4-18 that Alex was driving has been severely damaged, however this will not affect the continued development of MP4-18 or its subsequent race introduction.

"Kimi Raikkonen, David Coulthard and Pedro de la Rosa are also in attendance at the four-day test this week, and will continue to test MP4-18 and MP4-17D."

The car, which now looks as if it will make its debut at the British Grand Prix in July, and not at the European GP in two weeks time, was also damaged last week, when Kimi Raikkonen went off the track at Barcelona.

Speaking in the press conference prior to the Canadian GP, the Finn noted: "I just lost control, just dropped a wheel and then went off on the last corner. I didn't hurt myself and you can always fix the car. We were able to test the next day."

He added: "It all depends on what happens there [in Jerez next week] when we are going to bring [out] the [new] car."