OCTOBER 31, 2002

Liuzzi to test for Williams

Vitantonio Liuzzi is to test for the BMW Williams team at the start of December. The Italian youngster, who has been racing in the German Formula 3 Championship this year, finished second in the highly-competitive German Formula Renault title at his first attempt in single-seater last year - and at the same time won the World Karting Championship. Liuzzi has done a very good job in F3this year while learning the ropes.

The test is believed to have come about thanks to Liuzzi's contacts with wellknown talent-spotter Peter Collins, who was Williams team manager back in the 1980s and who helped to bring Gerhard Berger to prominence while running Benetton. Berger, of course, is now running BMW Motorsport, which supplies engines to Williams.

There is always a danger that an early F1 test will do more harm than good to a young driver by as the examples of Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen have proved in recent years, a good driver will shine come what may...