Newly crowned ETCC champion Andy Priaulx is to get a test drive with the BMW WilliamsF1 team during the off-season.

The announcement was made at the BMW Motorsport Party at the weekend.

The event, held in the Alps, at the Europa Sportregion Zell am See, was attended by various F1 celebrities, including Juan Pablo Montoya, who is now heading to McLaren, Sir Frank Williams, Antonio Pizzonia, ex-BMW Motorsport Director Gerhard Berger, and ex-F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg.

In addition to announcing that Priaulx is to get the F1 test with WilliamsF1, Theissen revealed that the Briton, along with German sensation, 17-year-old 2004 Formula BMW ADAC Championship, Sebastian Vettel, will both be jointly sponsored by BMW and Red Bull in 2005.

"Both drivers have delivered an outstanding performance," said Theissen. "We are very pleased to have won their services for BMW Motorsport. For Andy Priaulx, the priority in 2005 will be the WTCC. Beyond that he will be driving for BMW Motorsport in further assignments on and off the track.

In 2005, Priaulx will indeed contest the inaugural FIA World Touring Car Championship, while Vettel will compete in the European Formula 3 series.

"BMW will be helping him prepare for an ongoing Formula career with an individually tailored training programme,"said Theissen of Vettel, who has won 18 of the 20 Formula BMW races that he has contested.

Last night (Sunday), Priaulx became the first non-F1 driver since 1998 to win Autosport magazine's best British racing driver of the year award.

No date for the Guernsey-born driver's F1 test has been given.