Williams FW06

Concept

After a season running a customer March chassis in 1977 with limited results, just as in 1975 Frank Williams decided on a completely independent car for the new season. The FW06 was Patrick Head's first full F1 design. Inspired by the shortcomings of the March and his quick fix improvements done to the FW04 he took no chances and penned a simple and light car that handled well. It had a conventional design but was as tightly packaged as possible. As was normal at the time, some parts for the car were not bespoke items, but bought off the shelf. For example the radiators were sourced from a Volkswagen Golf. However reliability was an issue to begin with.

Race history

With major sponsorship secured from Saudi Arabian Airlines and TAG, the FW06 first took to the racetrack in the 1978 Argentine Grand Prix in the hands of Alan Jones, and a single car competed in all 16 rounds of the World Championship that season, finishing in the points 3 times including a second place at Watkins Glen, equalling Williams best result at the 1975 German Grand Prix. An excellent drive by Jones at Long Beach was unrewarded. While running second the car developed mechanical trouble and fell back. Jones liked the car, stating that it was pleasant to drive and was very drivable compared to previous machinery he had been given, and felt it was one of the best non ground effect cars that season. The higher budget afforded by the sponsorship deal allowed Patrick Head to continually develop the FW06 throughout the year. Williams finished ninth in the constructors' championship in 1978, matching the best performance by the team in its first incarnation achieved in 1975.

The FW06 also saw service in the first four races of the 1979 season, with Clay Regazzoni joining Jones in the team. Jones finished in third place at Long Beach, but by now the car was being left behind by the ground effect cars of Lotus, Ligier, Tyrrell and others, and the car was replaced by the FW07.

Upon being retired, the FW06 chassis was bought by motorcycle ace Giacomo Agostini, who had decided on a switch to car racing and drove the car with sponsorship from Marlboro in the British Formula One Championship in 1979 and 1980.

In popular culture

The car appeared in the video game Formula One Championship Edition in the classic cars along with other cars including the Lotus 49C, Lotus 72D, Cooper T51, Alfa Romeo 158 and Renault RS01.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position) (results in italics indicate fastest lap)

References

References

1. (7 July 2014). "Patrick Head".
2. (14 June 2018). "Williams FW06".
3. "1978 Williams FW06 Cosworth - Images, Specifications and Information".
4. (12 June 2017). "1975 German Grand Prix".
5. "1978 Williams FW06".
6. "Alan Jones Interview | Beyond The Grid | Official F1 Podcast STRONG LANGUAGE".
7. (12 June 2017). "Alan Jones | Motor Sport Magazine Database".
8. (16 January 1975). "1975 F1 Championship Standings".
9. "8W - Who? - Giacomo Agostini".