Gene to replace Ralf

The announcement follows the news that Schumacher Jr could be out of action for eight to 12 weeks after doctors revealed he had fractured two vertebrae in his high-speed crash at the United States Grand Prix 10 days ago.

"It is a shame that opportunities only come along when one of my colleagues has endured some kind of misadventure, but it is my job to make the best of such circumstances and ensure the team is not compromised by Ralf's absence," Gene commented. "I have raced at Magny-Cours before, and I have clocked up thousands of kilometres in the FW26, so hopefully this will provide the basis for a good performance in France this weekend."

Team boss Frank Williams added: "I wish Ralf well for a full recovery, and I hope to see him back racing before the end of the season. In the meantime, we are fortunate to have a driver of Marc's calibre to fill the void."

While Gene has been drafted in to race this weekend, the team has stated that a decision regarding drivers in future races will be made at a later date.

There have been suggestions that Williams could buy Mark Webber out of his Jaguar contract and get him in Ralf's seat for the remainder of the season. It could also be the team's chance to try out other drivers on their shopping list, such as former driver Jacques Villeneuve or Briton's Anthony Davidson.

It will be the second time Gene has stepped in to replace Ralf - the Spaniard competed in the Italian Grand Prix last year after Schumacher crashed heavily in testing at Monza.