Pizzonia to race for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team at Spa

Oxford, 06 September 2005. The BMW WilliamsF1 Team confirmed today that Antonio
Pizzonia will race for the team at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps
this weekend, in place of Nick Heidfeld.

Antonio Pizzonia, the team's long-term test driver, stepped into Heidfeld's
shoes last weekend in Monza, after he was declared unfit after Friday practice
at the Italian Grand Prix following a testing accident on August 26.

Given the intense schedule of back-to-back races, the team have decided to
allow Nick sufficient time to fully recuperate. In addition, the team will
avoid the need to make fitness assessments and driver nominations on the Friday
of the Belgian Grand Prix, which would otherwise handicap the team by requiring
Antonio Pizzonia to run first in the Belgian qualifying session.

In relation to this decision, Frank Williams said, "Our first priority is
prudence in relation to Nick's condition. Although the broad view is that he
may well be ready to race by Friday, the back-to-back calendar at this time
does not allow the luxury of more time to reach this conclusion, so it is best
both for Nick, and indeed the team if we make a clear and early decision that
Antonio will race this weekend. In addition to allowing Nick more time to
recover, we can nominate Antonio now and he can benefit on Saturday in Belgium
with a good starting position for qualifying from the strong seventh place
finish he secured in Monza.�?

Editor's Notes

Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, who will be 25 years old this Sunday, has raced for
the BMW WilliamsF1 Team on five occasions and has scored 8 points for the team,
including two points last weekend when he finished seventh after starting the
Italian Grand Prix from 16th position