Priaulx won't 'waste' F1 chance

Priaulx, who will test for Williams as a prize for winning the ETCC with BMW last year, has been working ultra-hard on his fitness and body strength to make sure that he can make the most of his F1 run.

"I definitely don't want to waste the opportunity," Priaulx told autosport.com at the Autosport International show. "I am taking it very seriously.

"I went down to the seat fitting and thought I was going to be treated as though I was just any other person who was going to get a run, but I was really surprised how keen they were to see me do well. I spoke to [engineering director] Patrick Head and he said it was a serious test, it is half a day in the car, and it is all down to me."

Although Priaulx has been initially only pencilled in for a half day run at Valencia on January 27, he has admitted to private hopes that he may do a good enough job in the run to be asked back for further tests in the future.

Only last week, team boss Frank Williams admitted that there was the possibility of his team signing extra test drivers for 2005.

Priaulx added: "I don't even pretend that I am going to be in for an F1 season, but I just want to be able to say that I have done a really professional job - and the team can say, 'yeah, he was alright, we can use him again.' It is down to me to do a good job.

"I feel I have got a lot to offer and I feel I am a good player - and in touring cars I have done something special."

Although Valencia is quite a technical track, Priaulx will at least benefit from previous circuit knowledge.

"Yeah, I know Valencia quite well so it is not a problem," he said. "Unfortunately it has been a couple of years since I have driven a single seater so I hope it will come rushing back."