Williams FW30
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | WilliamsF1 | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Sam Michael (Technical Director) | ||||||||
| Technical Specifications[1] | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-aramid and honeycomb composite monocoque. | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Carbon fibre double wishbone with toelink and pushrod operated torsion springs. | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone with pushrod and rocker operated torsion springs. | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 3100 mm (122 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Toyota RVX-08 2.4 L (146 cu in) 90° V8, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted. | ||||||||
| Transmission | Williams F1 seven-speed, seamless shift, sequential, semi-automatic. | ||||||||
| Weight | 605 kg (1334 lb) (inc. driver and ballast.) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Petrobras | ||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone | ||||||||
| Competition History | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | AT&T Williams | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |  Nico Rosberg Kazuki Nakajima |
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| Debut | 2008 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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The Williams FW30 is a Formula One racing car, designed by WilliamsF1 and introduced at the start of the 2008 Formula One season. The car is largely an evolution of the previous, 2007-season, Williams model: the FW29.[2] As with its predecessor, the FW30 is powered by engines manufactured by Toyota. The FW30 was unveiled to the public on 21 January 2008 at the Circuit de Valencia, Spain, and made its race debut at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix in the hands of 2008 Williams drivers Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima.
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[edit] Design
In comparison to the preceding Williams FW29 car, Williams Technical Director Sam Michael described the aim of the FW30's construction as being "refining our package and weight distribution"[2] rather than being a radical redesign.[3] Although not confirmed by Williams, weight distribution was likely moved forward somewhat, to better utilise the traction characteristics of the single-supply Bridgestone tyres.[3]
[edit] Chassis and suspension
In common with all contemporary Formula One designs, the FW30's basic architecture is built around a carbon fibre, aramid and honeycomb composite material monocoque.[1] The design carries over the FW29's zero keel, double wishbone suspension arrangement, along with the twin-pillar rear wing. The FW30's front wing is one area in which the design of the FW29 was not followed. In place of the older car's two-element wing a three-element design was introduced, similar to that used on the 2007 McLaren MP4-22. As with the McLaren design the Williams wing's upper element features a central section that is raised up and passes over the tip of the car's, slightly lower, nose cone. However, unlike the McLaren, the FW30's front wing is suspended from the nose cone using the forward element.[3] During the season the design of the wing bridge was tweaked slightly. From the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix onward the bridge element gained two small airflow "fences" that allowed the Williams aerodynamic team to extend the depth of the wing profile. This resulted in an increase in the aerodynamic downforce generated by the wing, without a concomitant increase in drag.[4]
Around the drivers, in accordance with new FIA regulations,[5] the cockpit sides are significantly raised in comparison to previous years. The exhaust chimneys were altered from the FW29's side-exit design, to a slimmer, vertical-exit one. Other, less obvious, chassis alterations include an increase in the number of cooling louvres in the upper surfaces of the side pods, made in response to a change in the orientation of the main radiators within the pods, and an increase in the backward sweep of the roll bar-mounted mid wing.[3]
[edit] Engine and transmission
For the first time since the 2005 Formula One season Williams maintained continuity with their engine supplier. The FW30 is powered by Toyota's RVX-08 engine, which conforms to FIA 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 regulations. One major change within the engine package is due to the enforcement of a standardised, FIA-approved ECU,[5] manufactured by McLaren Electronic Systems and distributed under the Microsoft brand. This was introduced to eliminate traction control and engine-assisted braking. Drive is via Williams' own seven-speed, semi-automatic transmission, with an electro-hydraulically activated, seamless shift mechanism.
[edit] Competition history
[edit] Launch and pre-season testing
The Williams FW30 was unveiled to the public at an FIA test session at the Circuit de Valencia, Spain, on 21 January 2008. There was no official, ceremonial launch event. In early pre-season testing the cars ran in a number of provisional liveries that marked, variously, the names of all those employed by Williams during the development of the FW30, the 85 sponsors who have supported Williams since the formation of Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 1978, and the team's 30th season in Formula One racing.[6]
[edit] Formula One World Championship results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | AT&T Williams | Toyota RVX-08 V8 | B | AUS | MAL | BHR | ESP | TUR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | EUR | BEL | ITA | SIN | CHN | JPN | BRA | 15* | 6th* | |
| Rosberg | 3 | 14 | 8 | Ret | 8 | Ret | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
| Nakajima | 6 | 17 | 14 | 7 | Ret | 7 | Ret |
* Season in progress
[edit] References
- Footnotes
- ^ a b FW30 Technical Specification. WilliamsF1.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
- ^ a b Noble, J. "Williams: new car a good step forward", Autosport, 2008-01-21. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
- ^ a b c d Scarborough, C. "Technical analysis of the Williams FW30", Autosport, 2008-01-21. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
- ^ Williams FW30 - revised front bridge wing. Formula1.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ^ a b 2008 season changes. Formula1.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
- ^ "More new cars in Spain", GrandPrix.com, 2008-01-22. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
- Race results
- Summary of Results: 2008. ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
[edit] External links
- Official studio photos of the Williams FW30. Formula1.com
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