JUNE 30, 2004

Gene confirmed "at this weekend's French GP"

Marc Gene, the Williams test and reserve driver, will drive for the team at the French Grand Prix this weekend but the team has yet to make any definitive decision about the longer term.

"After a high speed accident at Indianapolis 10 days ago, doctors have confirmed that Ralf Schumacher has sustained two fractures in his spinal column, and will require a recovery period of up to twelve weeks," the team said. "It is not clear when Ralf will be fit to race again. In the light of yesterday's medical diagnosis, future decisions regarding driver nominations will be taken at a later date."

Gene has competed in 34 Grands Prix - one of them for Williams - and has completed a total of 8075 miles of running in testing for the team this year.