Visitors to Autosport International this January will get the chance to see a significant part of motorsport history with an appearance from the Williams FW08C in the Live Action Arena.
The car raced in the 1983 Formula 1 season and will stare in the Live Action Arena at the Birmingham NEC from 14-17 January 2016, giving fans a unique chance to see the historic car up close and on the move.
It was the first Formula 1 car driven by legendary driver Ayrton Senna after he begged Williams team founder Frank Williams for the chance to have a test-drive in the car. Senna got his chance at Donington in July 1983, completing 40 laps and managing to lap the track faster than anyone else, including that year’s team drivers, Keke Rosberg and Jacques Laffite.
Rosberg and Laffite still enjoyed success in the car with Rosberg gaining pole position at the opening race of the 1983 season. Later in the season, Rosberg pulled off a great drive to win the Monaco Grand Prix, helping the team to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Also appearing will be a stunt Jaguar C-X75, one of cars that starred in the latest James Bond film SPECTRE. The C-X75 was provided by Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations in collaboration with development partner Williams Advances Engineering, the division of Williams that transfers technology from Formula 1 to other market sectors.
As well as the FW08C, Williams will be displaying eight other historically significant race cars on its stand including Damon Hill’s 1996 title-winning FW18, Nigel Mansell’s 1992 title-winning FW14B and the Williams-Mercedes FW37 of 2015.
Williams Deputy Team Principal, Claire Williams said, “We are really excited to be able to bring so many important cars from Williams’ Formula 1 history to share them with motor racing fans. The show will be a great opportunity for people to see the cars up close and on the move when the FW08C takes to the Live Action Arena.”
