Williams F1 to design cars for Formula Two series

Williams will design cars for the low-cost Formula Two championship due to replace GP2 as Formula One's feeder series next season, motor racing's governing body said on Monday. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that Motor Sport Vision (MSV), run by British former grand prix driver Jonathan Palmer, had won the tender to supply chassis and engines as well as promote the new series.

MSV had in turn commissioned Williams to design the car, with 1.8 liter Audi engines and to be built to Formula One safety standards.

The first prototype will be tested in November before the 16-race championship starts in May next year.

The FIA said performance levels would be between Formula Three and Formula One with the cost per competing driver put at less than 250,000 euros (198,400 pounds).

"The objective is to make top-level international single-seater racing available to drivers who at present have difficulty in raising enough money to demonstrate their talent," said FIA president Max Mosley.

"Formula One and other major championships will benefit by being able to draw on a far larger pool of drivers, while competitors from countries which do not yet have an established motor racing structure will find it easier to make progress.

"We hope to reveal talent that might otherwise never have emerged and we look forward to seeing drivers coming into Formula One with Super Licenses gained in Formula Two."

Palmer was Formula Two champion in 1983 while MSV owns five circuits in Britain, including Brands Hatch, while also running the Formula Palmer Audi series.