Williams reveals 2009 front & rear wings

The AT&T Williams team would become the first Formula One team to show what the 2009 specification front wings will look like at a recent test at the Kemble airfield in Gloucestershire. The driving duties were carried out by Jonathan Kennard, a British Formula 3 race winner.

The team would run with the 2009 front and rear wings on an FW30 chassis which still had the 2008 aerodynamics. The team had previously run with the  2009 specification rear wing at a test at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona last September.

The airfield test would see the team run with both front and rear wings. This was in preparation for the teams up-coming test next week with Kennard conducting straight line test with the interim car.

Under the 2009 rules the aerodynamics of the cars will be significantly different  with the wings been simplified with most of the current additional protrusions removed. The front wing is lower and wider while the rear wing has been made narrower and taller. The aim is to improve the quality of the racing by allowing drivers to follow each other more closely in fast corners.

The definitive versions of the 2009 cars will also have different diffusers, slick tyres and kinetic energy recovery systems, and will no longer feature extra aerodynamic devices on the central bodywork.
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Kennard' spoke of the test by thanking the Williams team for giving him the opportunity to drive a Formula One car. Kennard said: "It has been a good day today and great to be able to drive the new-spec Formula One car for the first time."

"I would like to extend my thanks to Sir Frank (Williams) and the team for the opportunity. I enjoyed working through the test programme and assisting the team with their preparations for the 2009 season."