Williams FW08
 A Williams FW08, pictured in 2008. |
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | Williams | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Frank Dernie | ||||||||
| Predecessor | FW07 | ||||||||
| Successor | FW09 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium honeycomb monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford Cosworth DFV, 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in), 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland FGA 400 5-speed manual | ||||||||
| Fuel | Mobil | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | TAG Williams Racing Team | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |
 Derek Daly Keke Rosberg Jacques Laffite Jonathan Palmer
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| Debut | 1982 Belgian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 1 (1982 – Keke Rosberg) | ||||||||
The Williams FW08 was a Formula One car designed by Frank Dernie which debuted at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix held at the Zolder circuit. An evolution of the FW07 that it replaced, the car was used by Finnish driver Keke Rosberg to win the 1982 World Drivers' Championship.
The FW08B was a six-wheeled (four driven wheels at the rear and two undriven wheels at the front) variant that originated from the FW07D (also six-wheeled). It never raced. Patrick Head specifically said that the reason it was banned was because "someone in a FOCA meeting said it would drive up costs and cause chaos during pitstops". The FIA promptly limited the number of wheels for all cars to four, of which only two may be driven.
The car was updated for the 1983 Formula One season to become the FW08C. Under new regulations all ground effect was out and flat bottom cars were in, meaning nearly all the cars in Formula One had to be heavily modified or replaced and the FW08 was no different. Against the turbo cars of Renault, Brabham and Ferrari, Williams were not expected to do as well as they did. Rosberg opened the season with pole position at the Brazilian Grand Prix (the last for a Cosworth engined car) and scored the car's last win, at the 1983 Monaco Grand Prix. He would eventually finish fifth in the Drivers' Championship, while Williams finished 1983 in fourth place, the best of the Cosworth-powered cars.
The FW08C also has the distinction of being the first Formula One car ever driven by Ayrton Senna, at Donington Park in July 1983, after he badgered team boss Frank Williams for a test after being sat beside him on a flight. Senna completed 40 laps and lapped the circuit faster than anyone else had managed in the car, including 1983 race drivers Rosberg and Jacques Laffite. However, Williams team was not able to offer Senna a drive for 1984 as Rosberg and Laffite were under contract and the Brazilian signed to the Toleman team instead. Senna would not drive another Williams until he signed to drive for the team in 1994.
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