SEPTEMBER 13, 2003

Gene replaces Ralf Schumacher

Ralf Schumacher has pulled out of the Italian Grand Prix and his World Championship hopes are in ruins. Ralf missed the chicane during first qualifying on Friday and ended up without a time, which meant that he would have to run early in the final qualifying session today.

Ralf decided overnight that he did not feel well enough to continue, blaming his recent testing crash at Monza.

Williams called in test driver Marc Gene who was already at Monza and on Saturday morning the Spaniard went out for his biggest chance yet in Formula 1.