Williams FW18

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**Williams FW18**

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Williams Grand Prix Engineering
Designer	Patrick Head & Adrian Newey
Chassis	Carbon/Epoxy composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	inboard torsion bars operated by pushrod bellcrank, unequal-length wishbones
Suspension (rear)	inboard torsion bars operated by pushrod bellcrank, unequal-length wishbones
Engine	Renault RS8/RS8B 3000cc V10 naturally-aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission	Williams 6-speed manual
Fuel	Elf
Tyres	Goodyear
Notable entrants	Rothmans Williams Renault
Notable drivers	Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve
Debut	1996 Australian Grand Prix
Races competed	16 (all variants)
Race victories	12
Constructors' Championships	1 (1996)
Drivers' Championships	1 (1996 - Damon Hill)
Pole positions	12
Fastest laps	11

The Williams-Renault FW18 is a Formula One car designed by Patrick Head and Adrian Newey for the 1996 Formula One season. Powered by a 3.0 litre Renault V10 engine, the FW18 drew heavily on the 1995 Williams car, the FW17, but featured new driver protection as regulated by the FIA for the new season: The drivers sat lower in the cockpit, which lowered the car's centre of gravity, thus aiding the handling of the car. Newey's superb aerodynamics placed the car well ahead of the Benetton B196s of Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi and the Ferrari F310 that Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine had at their disposal.

The FW18s were driven by Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. The car proved to be the most successful of the entire 1996 field; winning 12 of the 16 races during the season, with Hill winning 8 and Villeneuve winning 4. The FW18 was also the car that won Damon Hill his first, and only, Drivers Championship title, making the first son of a World Champion to become a Champion himself. The FW18 of also the second of three cars during the 1990s that had a 1-2 finish on its Grand Prix debut, the first being the Williams FW14 at the 1992 South African Grand Prix and the third being the McLaren MP4-13 at the 1998 Australian Grand Prix.

The FW18 of also one of three other Williams cars to feature in the Codemasters game, TOCA Race Driver 3.

[edit] Season performance

Jacques Villeneuve driving the Williams FW18 Formula One car at the 1996 Canadian Grand Prix. The Canadian would finish second, behind his teammate, Damon Hill. The Grand Prix was one of four occasions when the FW18s finished first and second.

Williams retained Damon Hill for 1996, who developed the car. It seemed to respond well to his smooth driving style, and was extremely reliable, as FW18s completed 1778 laps of a possible 2028, more then any other car that season.^[1] The car responded well to set-up changes and was competitive on all types of circuits, with at least one Williams driver, excluding Monaco and Italian Grand Prix, on the podium. The FW18 was equally as useful to his new team mate, Jacques Villeneuve.

The FW18 proved to be very successful during the season, as the car won twelve of the sixteen races and won the Constructors' Championship for Williams by a comfortable margin. Hill and Villeneuve fought a good natured but close title fight between them, which was decided in the Englishman's favour at the final round in Japan after Villeneuve's car lost its right-rear wheel. This was after Williams team manager, Frank Williams, took the controversial decision to not re-sign Hill for the 1997 season.

The FW18 scored 175 points in its time and was one of the most successful Formula One cars seen in the 1990's.

[edit] Complete Formula One Results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1996	Williams	Renault V10	G		AUS	BRA	ARG	EUR	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	JPN	175	1st
				Damon Hill	1	1	1	4	1	Ret	Ret	1	1	Ret	1	2	5	Ret	2	1
				Jacques Villeneuve	2	Ret	2	1	11	Ret	3	2	2	1	3	1	2	7	1	Ret