Williams FW08
Short, stiff and slippery, the Cosworth-powered Williams that let Keke Rosberg beat the turbo cars to the 1982 title.
- Power
- 515 bhp
About the Williams FW08
Developed from the FW07 by Frank Dernie under technical director Patrick Head, the FW08 made its debut at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix with a shorter wheelbase and a much stiffer aluminium honeycomb chassis. Dernie measured a lift-to-drag ratio of 8:1 in the Imperial College wind tunnel, and the underbody downforce was strong enough for Keke Rosberg to run without front wings, gaining straight-line speed against the more powerful turbo cars. Rosberg won the 1982 Swiss Grand Prix and added several podiums to take the Drivers' Championship. Reworked as the flat-bottomed FW08C for 1983, the car gave Rosberg pole in Brazil and victory at Monaco before the Honda-powered FW09 replaced it.
Williams FW08 specs
The Williams FW08 produces 515 bhp (384 kW).
| Make | Williams |
|---|---|
| Model | FW08 |
| Years | 1982–1983 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Engine | 3.0L naturally aspirated V8 (Cosworth DFV) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,993 cc (3.0 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Power | 515 bhp (384 kW) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
Williams FW08 rarity in CarSpot
The Williams FW08 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 42 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Williams FW08 fun facts
- An FW08C was the first Formula One car Ayrton Senna drove, at Donington Park in July 1983, and he lapped faster than the team's race drivers had managed.
- A six-wheeled FW08B with four driven rear wheels was built but never raced, as the rules were changed to allow only four wheels.
- Rosberg won the 1983 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch in an FW08C, the last non-championship Formula One race to be held.