Williams is delighted to announce that it will be showcasing some of its most iconic cars at next year’s Autosport International Show, which takes place 12th – 15th January 2017 at the NEC, Birmingham.
The experiential centrepiece Williams will be creating to mark its 40th anniversary at the pinnacle of motor racing will also feature some of the most celebrated Formula One cars in the team’s history.
These will include the car that brought Williams its first race win, the FW07, Nigel Mansell’s 1992 Drivers’ Championship-winning FW14B, Damon Hill’s 1996 Drivers’ Championship-winning FW18 and the FW25.
Designed by Patrick Head and powered by the Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine, the FWO7 was driven by Clay Regazzoni and made its debut part way through the 1979 season. With five wins from 15 grands prix, the FW07 claimed Williams’ first victory at the British Grand Prix.
The FW14B was driven by Nigel Mansell in 1992, winning a record-breaking nine races in a single season. Powered by a 3.5-litre V10 engine developed by Renault and with semi-automatic transmission, active suspension, traction control and anti-lock brakes, it was the most technically advanced car of its time. Mansell and Williams dominated the 1992 season, securing the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship with five races to go.
Statistically the most successful Williams racer, the FW18 took Damon Hill to 12 wins from 16 races, leading both Damon and Williams to another Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. With a 3.0-litre V10 engine, again developed by Renault, the FW18 is one of the most celebrated cars in the Williams Grand Prix Collection and a fan favourite.
Completing the line-up is the FW25, which was driven to victory at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2003 by Juan Pablo Montoya, and saw the team reach second in the Constructors’ Championship that year.
Claire Williams, WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING Deputy Team Principal, said; “We get such great support from the fans and we can’t wait to be able to give something back at Autosport International. We’re looking forward to showing off some of our most famous racing cars from the past four decades. It’s also a fantastic platform for us to showcase Williams Advanced Engineering and Williams Heritage.”
Anthony Rowlinson, Group Editor Autosport, F1 Racing and Motorsport News said; “We’re really looking forward to seeing these iconic racers at the show as part of Williams’ anniversary celebrations. Combined with the interactive feature, the return of this beloved British team to Autosport International in January is not to be missed.”
