Williams launches new racecar livery

Williams driver Ralf Schumacher drove a 1999 Williams racecar - which has been redressed in white and blue - onto a stage at the marque's Munich premises.

The event also marked the launch of a joint BMW-Williams Web site www.bmw.williamsf1.com.

BMW boss Dr Wolfgang Ziebart was joined on stage by motorsport director Gerhard Berger, and F1 team owner Frank Williams.

Although Ziebart insisted BMW wanted to win, he acknowledged it would be difficult.

'We want to win,' he said, 'but we are not kidding ourselves.

'We realise it will not be easy with the competition we are facing...which is why we are not setting ourselves a deadline for winning our first race - or our first world championship.'

However, he insisted BMW would be a tough competitor in Formula 1.

Williams made no mention of driver line-up for 2000, but said it hoped to announce who would be driving alongside Schumacher - and a new sponsor - at Barcelona in a couple of weeks.

The team, which claims it is still in talks with current driver Alex Zanardi about the seat - is said to be testing young drivers at the track next week.

F3 star, Jenson Button, has been linked to the drive.

The new livery will also be launched at the Detroit motorshow on Monday.