Williams confirms Pizzonia as test driver

Williams has confirmed Antonio Pizzonia as an official test driver for the 2004 season, the Brazilian returning to the role he occupied with the team in 2002. Pizzonia raced for Jaguar in 2003 before being replaced by Justin Wilson for the last five races of the year, and has since tested with Williams over the winter.

"It feels great to be back working with everyone at the BMW WilliamsF1 Team," he said in a statement released on February 10th. "My long term future in Formula One is as a race driver, but my aim for this year is to do everything I can as a test driver to help the team win the World Championship."

Pizzonia was signed by Jaguar to partner Mark Webber for 2003 but it wasn't long before things were looking uncertain. The team sought to replace him with McLaren test driver Alex Wurz in the early summer but the deal never happened.

Pizzonia's reprieve as short lived and Wilson took over from Germany onwards. Wilson's Jaguar career didn't last either, the Englishman being replaced by Christian Klien for 2004.

Antonio lines up alongside long-term Williams test and third driver Marc Gen?. Having competed in 11 grands prix last season, Pizzonia cannot take part in Friday practices of race weekends this year.

The Brazilian was with Williams for testing at Valencia at the end of January and set an unofficial track record. "Antonio once again impressed the team using the modified FW25," said chief operations engineer Sam Michael.

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