Success, failure, tragedy and championships, they have all been part of the 30 years of Frank Williams in the world of Formula One.
Frank Williams became the first Formula One team owner to receive a knighthood in January of 1999 but even before that he had been awarded a CBE for his services to motor racing in 1987. He was also made a Chevalier of France's Legion d'honneur, an honor awarded for his work with Renault engines.
Francis Owen Garbatt Williams was born April 16, 1942 in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, England, to an RAF officer and a special education teacher. After being given a drive in a friends Jaguar XK150 in the late 1950s Williams was hooked on cars and motor sport.
He made his own racing debut in 1961 driving an Austin and thru his racing he met Piers Courage and Jonathan Williams and later shared a flat with both of them and Charlie Crichton-Stuart. Frank did not have as many funds available to him as his other roommates and became Jonathan Williams's mechanic at Formula Junior races. By 1966 he had decided to retire his own racing career and started a business selling spare parts and old cars. He then founded Frank Williams Racing Cars and rented premises in Slough.
In 1967, Williams made his debut as team owner giving Piers Courage a drive at Brands Hatch. In 1968 he also ran Courage in Formula 2, and at the same time running an F3 car with some success.
The early 1970’s saw Williams struggle from year to year, using money gained from one year to fund the next year’s events. In 1972 the first ever Williams-built F1 car appeared but was destroyed on its first outing. Williams finally sold a majority stake in his team to Walter Wolf who later removed Williams from the day to day running of the team.
Williams was determined to stay in Formula one though and in 1977 along with one of his old employees, engineer Patrick Head the two friends formed Williams Grand Prix Engineering.
The new team and new look was inspiring and success followed with their first win in 1979 at the hands of Clay Regazzoni. The very next year saw the first title with Alan Jones, and a second championship soon followed in 1982 with Keke Rosberg.
But hardship would soon come again. In early 1986 Williams was driving with Peter Windsor from the Paul Ricard Circuit to Nice when Williams lost control of the car which rolled over Williams. The accident left him paralyzed while Windsor suffered only minor injuries. Williams has been in a wheelchair ever since, but as headstrong and determined as ever. Amazingly enough his team won the constructors championship both that year and the next year and added the drivers’ championship to boot with Nelson Piquet.
As always though it seemed as if life had one more blow for Frank and in 1994 Ayrton Senna crashed and died in a Williams at Imola. Williams was charged with manslaughter and after years of legal ramblings was finally cleared of any wrongdoing.
But the 90’s weren’t all bad for Williams, winning drivers championships in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997 and constructors championships in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997.
The Williams team has now won nine constructors' titles and seven drivers’ titles since the team made its debut in 1978.
”It’s very easy to be hooked by Formula One. Once you’re in, you can’t get out. It’s almost an addiction, but an enjoyable one.” Frank has said. “But life’s tough, it’s never meant to be easy, you just have to get on with it and work hard to get back to the top.”
Definitely words to live by.
