Indian Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan will test for Williams in Spain this week after failing to find a race seat for next year.
The team, who have yet to name a reserve and test driver, said the 28-year-old Chennai racer would join them in Jerez on Wednesday for the start of a three-day test.
"Karthikeyan will test for the team pending the announcement of the team's third driver," said a Williams' statement.
"Narain will be in Jerez to help us with normal testing duties," added technical director Sam Michael. "At this stage of development of the FW27C, we have a series of systems checks and initial set-up investigations to complete."
Karthikeyan became India's first Formula One driver, and the first to score points, when he made his debut with Jordan this season.
New owners Midland have now replaced Jordan on the starting grid and have opted for well-funded Dutchman Christijan Albers and Portugal's Tiago Monteiro.
Williams have Australian Mark Webber and Germany's Nico Rosberg as their 2006 lineup but even a test role at the former champions would represent a positive step for Karthikeyan.
