Monday March 6th, 2000

BMW-Williams said on Monday they face a testing season when Formula One racing starts at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday.

"It will be a tough season for us all and we are under no illusions about what's ahead of us," Frank Williams, managing director of Williams F1, said on Monday.

The new racing partnership marks the return of BMW to Formula One after an absence of 12 years.

Gerhard Berger, BMW's Motorsport director, said the team would have to tread carefully when it takes to the track with its youngest driver line-up of Germany's Ralf Schumacher, 24, and 20-year-old Briton Jenson Button.

"We will need time to learn and we must not push our expectations too far in what is the first of a five-year partnership with Williams," said Berger, a former Ferrari driver.

Bookmakers William Hill price BMW-Williams at 33-1 to win the constructors' championships. Ralf Schumacher is also 33-1 to win the Formula One drivers' title.

His brother Michael, who drives for Ferrari, is evens favourite to win. McLaren are 4-5 favourites to win the constructors' title.