Williams Racing is thrilled to announce its participation in this year’s prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed with its F1 drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, Team Principal James Vowles, and F1 Academy starlet Lia Block forming its stellar driver line-up over the course of the event. They will take to the wheel of the 1982 Drivers’ Championship-winning FW08 at the annual showpiece celebration of motorsport, perfectly uniting Williams’ history made and history in the making. It will be a landmark moment for both James and Lia who will get their first taste of driving a Williams F1 car on the world-famous Goodwood hill climb.
Williams and the Goodwood Festival of Speed have always been ideally-matched partners, sharing deep motorsport roots, unrivalled British heritage and a commitment to bringing fans closer than ever to iconic motor racing machinery. In 2024, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is all about celebrating the timeline of propulsion. The theme ‘Horseless to Hybrid – Revolutions in Power’ will journey through the evolution of the motoring industry. Covering a timeline of more than 130 years, it will look back with pride at the progress the automotive industry has made, while also looking ahead to what’s next.
In keeping with the theme, Williams’ centrepiece will be one of its heritage star cars of the past: Keke Rosberg’s FW08. This revered ground effect Formula 1 car demonstrates the team’s relentless pursuit of excellence and pioneering innovation which has underpinned its 47-year history. Supreme aerodynamics meant the Cosworth DFV-powered FW08 was able to compete with the more powerful turbo cars of the era, and Rosberg’s masterful driving secured him the Drivers’ World Championship including a single win at Dijon. Partnered by Derek Daly, Williams came 4th in the Constructors’ Championship. Keke’s 1982 drivers’ crown is one of 16 World Championships in Williams’ incredible history – seven drivers’ titles and nine constructors’. Alex will pilot the legendary car as he returns to the Festival of Speed for a second year running while Logan makes his Goodwood debut. They will spend time meeting some of the dedicated and passionate fans that make the pilgrimage to the fantastic celebration of motorsport and car culture.
In what promises to be a memorable weekend, James will get his first drive in a Williams since taking over as Team Principal last year and beginning a long-term project to transform the team back into Championship-winning contention. Away from the pit wall James is a keen racer who most recently competed in the Asian Le Mans series in 2022. Rounding out the line-up is Lia, Williams’ F1 Academy entrant, who made her series debut at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Lia is an exciting young talent competing in Formula 1’s female-only single-seater racing championship. She has secured multiple accolades across numerous disciplines, most notably winning the 2023 American Rally Association Open Two-Wheel Drive class to become the youngest ARA champion in history. She also won the Pro-Stock car class of the BAJA 1000 as part of the Block House Racing team in November.
James Vowles, Team Principal: “We are looking forward to being at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and sharing our passion for motorsport with fans from around the world. The Festival of Speed is such a beloved and unique event and gives us the opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage of Williams Racing and motorsport as a whole. It will be a dream come true for me to drive a title-winning heritage Williams F1 car. We can’t wait to take on the hill climb and put on a show for the incredible crowds that gather at Goodwood each year.”
The Duke of Richmond, Founder, Goodwood Festival of Speed: “I am delighted that Williams Racing are joining us at the Festival of Speed this year with such a stellar line-up of drivers and the FW08, which so brilliantly aligns with our theme, ‘Revolutions in Power’. Our fans are always hugely excited to see Formula 1 teams, cars and drivers in action and, like them, I’m very much looking forward to watching Alex, Logan, James and Lia take to the Hill.”
The Goodwood Festival of Speed will take place from 11-14 July 2024. To get the latest news, including driver day attendance, stay tuned to williamsf1.com or the team’s social channels @williamsracing
