1982 Cars

The FW08 was based on a shorter wheelbase, built using traditional aluminium honeycomb construction rather than the carbon fibre chassis developed by teams like McLaren. The front of the car would (like the 1982 Brabham) feature no front wing due to the amount of downforce generated by the under-floor ground effects. Unlike many of the cars competing in the 1982 season the new Williams wouldn't use a turbo based engine and instead remained with the normally aspirated Ford Cosworth DFV. This would put Williams at a power disadvantage but guarantee stronger reliability.

The Williams FW08 would first appear at a Zolder tyre test on 14 April 1982 (see images below).  Almost a month later the car would make its official race debut at the same venue in the Belgian Grand Prix. Only a late tyre issue losing Keke the lead on the penultimate lap would cost the new car a debut victory. The second place at Zolder would however show how competitive the FW08 could be for the rest of the season. From the 12 races it started in 1982 there would be eight point finishes in total, with five of them being on the podium. 

The first victory for the FW08 would be tantalisingly close on a number of occasions, none more so than 0.05 seconds losing gap at the Österreichring. The breakthrough win would come a round later at the Swiss Grand Prix held in Dijon. Charging through the field, Keke would have to battle not just his competitors but also against the flag waving incompetence of the organisers. This first victory would cement Keke's strong end to the year, culminating in him winning the drivers title at the final race of the season in Las Vegas.

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The FW08 would follow its predecessors by being updated and raced in 1983 as the FW08C for the majority of the season. It would only miss the final race in South Africa when the turbo based FW09 was given its race debut.