British F3 driver Ricardo Teixeira has been invited to test for Williams' Formula 1 team – as he bids to become the first of his countrymen to break into the top flight.

The Angolan competed in British F3 with Ultimate Motorsport in 2008, having begun his career karting in Portugal eight years ago and graduating to F3 in 2002.

The 26-year-old moved to race in Britain in 2005, and has since driven for Carlin Motorsport, Performance Racing Europe and now Ultimate.

Though results have been thin on the ground – a brace of 13th place finishes at Brands Hatch in July and Silverstone the following month Teixeira's best of the season – Angolan sports newspaper Jornal dos Desportos reports that Williams has granted him a test, possibly as early as January.

According to international news agency AFP, Teixeira's father and manager Jorge admitted to having been 'taken by surprise' by the invite, but added that he was confident Angola is getting nearer to having its first F1 driver.