Williams FW09
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | Williams | ||||||||
| Designer(s) |
Frank Dernie Neil Oatley |
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| Predecessor | FW08 | ||||||||
| Successor | FW10 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium honeycomb monocoque with carbon fibre stress points | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone, rocker-operated inboard spring damper | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Lower wishbone, rocker-operated inboard spring damper/Double wishbone, pullrod-operated inboard spring damper | ||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 1,778 mm (70.0 in) Rear: 1,676 mm (66.0 in) |
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| Wheelbase | 2,769 mm (109.0 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Honda RA163-E, 1,494 cc (91.2 cu in), 80° V6, turbo, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Williams / Hewland 6-speed Manual | ||||||||
| Weight | 558 kg (1,230.2 lb) (FW09) 540 kg (1,190.5 lb) (FW09B) |
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| Fuel | Mobil | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | TAG Williams Racing Team | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 5.  Jacques Laffite6.  Keke Rosberg
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| Debut | 1983 South African Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Williams FW09 was a Formula One car designed by Frank Dernie and Neil Oatley. It was the first Williams chassis to be powered by a turbocharged Honda V6 engine, for which Frank Williams negotiated a deal towards the end of 1982 and the beginning of 1983.
Honda was already supplying the small Spirit team for 1983, but was enthusiastic about supplying Williams, who not only had the reigning World Champion Keke Rosberg as lead driver, but were one of the leading constructors in Formula One who had previously won both the Drivers' and Constructors titles on multiple occasions, a résumé that Spirit (nor their young driver Stefan Johansson) could not hope to match. Williams had agreed to help develop the engine under Grand Prix race conditions.
The chassis was built from aluminium with carbon fibre used at stress points and was based on the reasonably successful 1983 Williams FW08C. The engine cover had to be redesigned as the car was powered by a smaller, but more powerful (850 bhp (634 kW; 862 PS)) V6 engine rather than the 530 bhp (395 kW; 537 PS) Cosworth V8 that powered the FW08C. The front of the car was also redesigned giving the car cleaner aerodynamics. The FW09 was introduced at the South African Grand Prix, the last race of the 1983 season, which was nothing more than a shakedown exercise. Rosberg showed the potential of both car and engine by qualifying sixth and finishing in fifth place while team mate Jacques Laffite started 10th but spun off under braking for Crowthorne Corner at the end of the long main straight on lap two, his car ending up in the tyre barrier and out of the race.
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