Gene Hopeful of Landing Williams Seat

Williams-BMW driver Marc Gene claims he is good enough to land a permanent seat with the team next season as he looks to stake his claim at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend.

Gene was awarded a second race deputising for the injured Ralf Schumacher following his performance at the French Grand Prix last Sunday and he is hoping to build on his 10th place finish at Magny-Cours.

Spaniard Gene stepped up from his test-driving duties and qualified around 0.1 seconds slower than teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in his first race in 10 months, but a slow start cost him the chance of points.

Schumacher has since revealed that he will be joining Toyota in 2005, leaving Gene with the opportunity to fight for a race seat at Williams with Montoya also departing to join rivals McLaren at the end of the year.

"There were many areas where I showed potential in Magny-Cours and if I can improve on that, then probably the next race - well, I don't know," said Gene, who was handed his chance after Schumacher suffered a double fracture of his spine.

"At least I have been good enough to get here. I think I did enough there to get the drive here. To be within one tenth of Juan Pablo in qualifying and to get the fastest lap of the race (of the two Williams drivers at Magny Cours) - it was good.

"If I keep doing what I know I can do I hope it will be good enough for next year. Next year is far away. I just have to focus on things race-by-race and if things go well the future will take care of itself."

Gene said he has no plans to quit his testing role for the remainder of the season with Williams if it is decided he is not the man to stand in for Schumacher beyond Silverstone or if he is overlooked for 2005.

"I think it will be on a race by race basis from now until the end of the season but it is better that than no race," said Gene. "The more I test the better I will become so I will tell them that."