BMW and the Grove-based Williams F1 team have announced an extension of their existing partnership to contest the FIA Formula 1 World Championship for a further five years, until the end of the 2009 season.

The contract announcement comes 18 months ahead of the expiry of the existing partnership agreement at the end of next 2004 season.

Dr Burkhard G-schel, who is responsible for the BMW Formula 1 project, said: "We are very pleased to have placed our collaboration with them on a sound and long-term basis.

"As an automobile manufacturer, we have options that are simply not open to a racing team, and we need to join together to explore these possibilities.

"By the same token, this is all about supporting and harnessing the specialist expertise of one of the most successful teams in the history of Formula 1.

"We are convinced that this alignment will lay the foundation stone for the future success of this project."

BMW Williams F1 team principal Frank Williams was delighted with the new deal. He said: "BMW have been an extremely impressive and highly-motivated engine partner to work with since 2000.

"I have every confidence that with the structure of this new agreement we will be able to draw from a deeper pool of BMW resource.

"When added together with the technical competence and determination to win at Williams F1, I believe that this relationship will yield significant dividends."