Williams FW07
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | Williams Grand Prix Engineering | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Patrick Head & Neil Oatley | ||||||||
| Technical Specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Lower wishbones and inboard springs | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Lower wishbones and inboard springs | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford-Cosworth DFV 2993cc V8 naturally aspirated mid-mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland 5-speed manual | ||||||||
| Fuel | Lucas | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition History | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Williams | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | Alan Jones, Clay Regazzoni, Carlos Reutemann, Desiré Wilson, Kevin Cogan, Rupert Keegan, Emilio de Villota |
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| Debut | 1979 Argentine Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 2 (1980 & 1981) | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 1 (Alan Jones, 1980) | ||||||||
The Williams-Ford FW07 was a ground effect car designed by Patrick Head for the 1979 F1 season. It was closely based on the Lotus 79, even being developed in the same wind tunnel at Imperial College London. The car was small and simple and extremely light, powered by the ubiquitous Ford Cosworth DFV. It had very clean lines and seemed to be a strong challenger for the new season, but early reliability problems halted any serious threat for the title.
The car made it's debut partway through the 1979 season, driven by Alan Jones and Clay Regazzoni, who took Williams' first win in that year's British Grand Prix, before Jones stepped up and won 4 of the next 5 races with the nimble car. Although they lost out to Ferrari in 1979, Williams had established themselves as the team to beat for 1980.
Regazzoni was replaced by the enigmatic Carlos Reutemann for 1980, and while he and Jones formed a successful partnership they were not comfortable with each other. Both drivers developed the FW07 further, working especially on setup and suspension strengthening. The car was now so efficient in creating ground effect that the front wings were unnecessary. The development worked well. Jones won 5 races in Argentina, France, Britain, Canada and the USA to win his only world championship, while Reutemann won at a wet Monaco. Williams' main challenge came from Brabham and Nelson Piquet and their neat BT49 car, but while Jones won the drivers' championship, Williams won their first constructors' championship, which Frank Williams placed a high value on.[citation needed]
The FW07 evolved into the FW07B for 1981 and this time it was Reutemann who challenged Piquet for the championship, narrowly missing out in the final race, but Williams took home the constructors' championship after 4 more wins. Further work was done to the suspension, especially after the FIA banned the moveable skirts needed for effective ground effect. The hydraulic suspension systems were developed by Jones, who hated the rock hard suspension. He mentioned how uncomfortable the car was to drive, to which Patrick Head replied that he should sit on his wallet. 'Yeah,' drawled the tough Aussie. 'If you gave me something to put in it!'[citation needed]
After Jones retired, Williams took on Keke Rosberg in 1982, and his mercurial driving seemed to suit the FW07, which although it was now 3 years old, was still competitive.
After 15 wins, 300 points, one drivers' and two constructors titles the FW07 was replaced by the similarly engineered FW08 from early 1982.
[edit] See also
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