Amidst all the controversy regarding McLaren's supposed dominance this season and the lingering doubts concerning grooved tires and skinny cars, it has been easy to overlook the fact that a star is on the rise.

With his brilliant pass in Brazil, his equally stunning (though eventually less successful) maneuver in Argentina, and his fifth place qualifying position in San Marino, Alexander Wurz has become the ascendant driver in Formula One. Not only has he outperformed his much-touted teammate and last year's heir apparent Giancarlo Fisichela, he upstaged the entire field by setting the fastest lap in the Argentina race. Last Sunday's DNF (due to engine and gearbox failure) doesn't tarnish his brilliance one bit.

I first caught a glimpse of Wurz in the 1996 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Over the course of the race the circuit's echoing loudspeaker burned Wurz's previously unfamiliar name into my memory. In the end Reinhold Joest outsmarted the Porsche factory once again and a young, lanky Austrian stood atop the Le Sarthe podium awash in joy and disbelief.

In 1997, after being thrust into the limelight of the Formula One spectacle as a result of Gerhard Berger's lingering sinus problems, Wurz would stand atop the podium again. His third place finish at the British Grand Prix in only his second race, as well as his two other fine drives, proved to the Benneton team that their test driver was worthy of having his name painted on the car.

During 1997, Wurz further proved himself on the sports car front as he helped Mercedes steamroller its FIA-GT competition with their superb CLK-GTR. I was on hand for the last round of the series at Laguna Seca. Although Sunday belonged to Bernd Schneider with his championship-winning drive, Saturday was Wurz's day. With a minute remaining in the final qualifying session on a track he had driven for the first time the day before, Wurz outpaced his more experienced competitors (and teammates) and took the pole in an awesome display of driving prowess.

With a few pats on the back Wurz nonchalantly exited the car and proceeded to stride down to the other end of the pits to be weighed in. There was no sweat on his brow, no breath to be caught. He walked with the gait of a thoroughbred athlete and the determination of an astronaut. As I scrambled to keep up with him on the other side of the wall, I couldn't help but think that I was in the presence of a future World Champion.