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• Williams
Heritage in partnership with Honda Motor Co., Ltd. complete a full
period-correct restoration of the Honda-owned 1986 championship-winning FW11
• F1 legend Nigel Mansell to drive the newly-restored car on Saturday 12
July at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Former Williams
race-winning drivers Thierry Boutsen and Riccardo Patrese, alongside
Williams Heritage driver Karun Chandhok, to pilot the FW11 across the
festival weekend
• The restoration project celebrates one of the most
iconic partnerships in Formula 1 history between Atlassian Williams Racing
and Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Atlassian Williams Racing is
proud to announce a landmark collaboration with Honda Motor Co., Ltd. to
restore one of the most iconic machines in Formula 1 history — the
Honda-powered FW11, the celebrated 1986 Formula 1 Constructors’ World
Championship-winning car driven to glory by Nigel Mansell.
Following
several months of meticulous, period-correct restoration by Williams
Heritage, the FW11 has been fully rebuilt to its original
championship-winning specification and will make a highly-anticipated return
to the track at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (10-13 July). Nigel
Mansell will reunite with the car for the first time since 1986, taking to
the wheel on Saturday 12 July. This moment marks the first collaboration
between Williams and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. since their historic partnership
in the 1980s.
Celebrating 75 years of Formula 1, this year’s Festival
of Speed embraces the theme: ‘The Winning Formula: Champions and
Challengers’. Williams Heritage and Honda Motor Co., Ltd’s participation
perfectly embodies this spirit, showcasing a former Constructors’
Championship-winning car driven by multiple former Williams World Champions
and race winners — a true celebration of Williams’ legacy as one of the
sport’s most successful teams.
The Williams FW11 is a symbol of 1980s
F1 dominance, combining Honda’s RA166E 1.5L V6 twin-turbo engine with
Williams' cutting-edge engineering. Weighing just 540 kg, the car features
pushrod front and pullrod rear double wishbone suspension, and a six-speed
manual gearbox, providing exceptional handling and precision. This
restoration celebrates both the car’s groundbreaking technology and its
enduring legacy in the sport.
Joining Mansell will be former Williams
race winners Thierry Boutsen and Riccardo Patrese, alongside Williams
Heritage Ambassador and Formula 1 broadcaster Karun Chandhok, each taking
their turn behind the wheel throughout the festival.
In addition to
the FW11 showcase, Atlassian Williams Racing will bring their iconic FW14B
to Goodwood — the active-suspension machine that propelled the team to the
1992 Constructors’ World Championship.
The FW14B will be piloted
across the weekend by talent from Williams’ past, present, and future,
including Nigel Mansell, and Atlassian Williams Racing’s James Vowles, Jamie
Chadwick and Lia Block.
Together, these cars and drivers will
highlight two of the most significant chapters in Williams’ illustrious
Formula 1 history, thrilling fans and paying tribute to decades of
innovation, passion, and success.
James Vowles, Team Principal,
Atlassian Williams Racing: “It’s an incredible privilege to celebrate
Williams’ rich history at Goodwood, showcasing two of the team’s most iconic
cars. The restored FW11 represents a historic collaboration between
Atlassian Williams Racing and Honda Motor Co., Ltd, a partnership that
defined an era of engineering excellence and championship success. Alongside
the legendary FW14B, seeing these cars together at Goodwood is a powerful
reminder of our rich racing legacy. This event perfectly honours the
heritage and innovation that continue to inspire our team today.”
Jonathan Kennard, Heritage Director, Atlassian Williams Racing: “Restoring
the FW11 to its original, race-winning condition has been a true labour of
love for all here at Williams Heritage. Witnessing the car take to the hill
at Goodwood, reunited with Nigel Mansell for the first time since 1986, will
be an unforgettable and deeply meaningful moment for everyone involved. I’m
especially proud to see Atlassian Williams Racing and Honda Motor Co., Ltd
come together once again, rekindling a partnership that made history nearly
four decades ago. This collaboration stands as a powerful tribute to the
remarkable era of innovation and success that we forged in Formula 1.”
Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC): “In Honda’s
F1 journey since 1964, the FW11 represents a milestone of a perfect
combination of engine performance and chassis dynamics. Collaborating with
Williams Heritage to restore this iconic car honours our shared history and
commitment to innovation. Its return to the track at Goodwood, is a fitting
celebration of 75 years of Formula 1 and endorses the legacy of engineering
excellence and competitive spirit we helped build together over many years.” |
