Gene poised to take Williams test seat

The Spaniard, although still under contract to Minardi until the end of the year, visited Williams' Oxfordshire base over the weekend for discussions with team boss Sir Frank Williams.

Gene is the latest driver to choose a test deal with a top team over racing for a smaller outfit - a trend set by Olivier Panis last year, when he quit Prost to test for McLaren. The Spaniard's move to the Grove-based team will complete the 2001 test driver line-up among the front-running teams.

The 26-year-old's position at Minardi came under threat following the withdrawal of the team's Telefonica backing. The Spanish telecommunications giant funded the majority of Gene's drive at Minardi, while the ex-Formula Nissan champion is believed to have lost faith in the Faenza-based outfit.

Gene's fellow countryman Fernando Alonso is tipped as his most likely replacement at Minardi, as the Formula 3000 race-winner already has a contract with the Formula 1 minnows. But Ferrari has also been in touch with Alonso, with a view to giving the 19-year-old a testing role alongside Luca Badoer.

"The management has not decided about drivers for next year," said a Minardi spokeswoman. "It depends on the sponsors, the engine and many other factors."