Photo: Pete Austin

Greatest Racecar? Williams FW07

Frank Williams and Patrick Head are probably the best blokes I have ever driven for, so, it should come as no surprise that I chose one of the Williams cars as my greatest racecar. Indeed, too, selecting the Williams FW07 should be no surprise either. In the 1980 ‘B’ spec, it took me to the pinnacle of motor sport. I have a great respect for Frank and Patrick as blokes; we are all around the same age and have known exactly what it was like to fight for everything we got out of life. We were all underdogs. I have to say, they have shown great qualities of longevity still being in Formula One today. I thought they may have tired of it long ago; I know I did. However, they go on year after year with the same enthusiasm and tenacity as they had in the early days.

As far as the car, FW07, is concerned, it was just a fantastic car to drive and I felt as one with it. Originally, it was a “wing” or “ground effect” car and became one of the most successful cars of its time. During 1979, its debut year, the car got better and better as the season wore on. I won four out of the last six races that year, and had it not been for a ridiculous point scoring system of only allowing so many races counting toward the final total, I could have been World Champion in 1979.

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