Gene re-signs with WilliamsF1

By BMW Motorsport
November 2 2003

WilliamsF1 Test Driver Marc Gene has resigned with the BMW WilliamsF1 team for 2004. Both Marc and the team were happy with the decision. For the team Marc's abilities are highly valued and for Marc he will make every effort to assist the team to win the championships in 2004.

	Gene resigns with WilliamsF1
	The BMW WilliamsF1 Team today confirmed that Marc Gené (ESP) has re-signed as the team’s official test and reserve driver for the 2004 season. 29 year old Gené, a native of St Quirze del Vallés near Barcelona in Spain, has undertaken testing duties for the team since 2001, and in three years of relentless work, has completed nearly 42,000 km of testing on the team’s behalf. As Chief Operations Engineer, Sam Michael reflects, "Testing is the backbone of our racing performance and the essential hard grind of the job. I'm confident that the BMW WilliamsF1 Team could have no-one better as the mainstay of our testing programme. Marc is quick, consistent, and provides the team engineers with excellent and intelligent feedback. It gives me great confidence to know that he will be with the team again next year. I'm also comfortable knowing that Marc, if needed, can also race competitively as he showed this season." While most test drivers conduct their trade away from the glare of publicity, Marc has 34 Grand Prix starts to his name, and also holds the position of Official Reserve Driver for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. After a mid-season testing accident involving Ralf Schumacher, Marc deputised for the German driver in the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. In his first race representing the team, he claimed a highly creditable 5th place on the grid, and showed an extremely competitive race pace, contributing a valuable four points to the team by finishing in 5th place. Despite only having one solitary race start in the 2003 season, Marc finished ahead of three regular drivers in the FIA Formula One Drivers’ Championship, as well as being ahead of four other drivers who between them recorded 19 GP starts. Team Principal Frank Williams reflected, “We are fortunate to have a driver of Marc’s calibre who can test with metronomic precision and efficiency, but who also has the race craft and depth of experience to represent the team at a Grand Prix when circumstances require. I am very pleased that we have managed to extend our relationship for another season given that Marc’s testing knowledge and abilities are highly regarded elsewhere.” The Spaniard said on confirmation of his contract for 2004, “I am delighted to continue my relationship with the BMW WilliamsF1 Team for next year.” He continued, “2003 has been a very busy and special year, busy because so far this season I have completed 24,000 testing kilometres, and obviously special since it marked my debut with the team as a race driver at Monza, a race I really enjoyed. For next season, my goal is to assist the team in every way to win the World Championship.”