Formula One is back at Thruxton. Well, almost…
Head to the Hampshire circuit for its 50th Anniversary Celebration on 2/3 June and you’ll see former F1 driver Karun Chandhok behind the wheel of Keke Rosberg’s 1983 Williams FW08C.
The car won the 1983 Monaco Grand Prix with Rosberg at the wheel, and also provided Ayrton Senna’s first ever taste of F1 machinery, when he tested for Williams in July of that year.
Chandhok is certainly excited to put the 540kg, 530bhp racing car’s famous Ford Cosworth DFV V8 through its paces.
“I’ve driven the Williams FW08C a few times before,” he said. “It’s a very special car with its manual gearbox and Ford DFV engine, which is probably the most important engine ever produced in Formula 1 and it still sounds as good as it did all those years ago.
“It’s a truly iconic piece of kit, and there aren’t many opportunities to see these legendary cars in action anymore.
“I’ll be giving it a blast at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix before Thruxton’s 50th, which will serve as a nice warm-up. I’d obviously love to open it up properly, but at the same time, I’m very conscious that this car is being wheeled out of a museum for me.
“That said, as a racing driver, you’re never inclined to take it particularly easy, and I’ll certainly do my utmost to put on a real show for everybody.”
It’s the first time an F1 car has taken to Thruxton since 1993, when Damon Hill piloted a title-winning Williams FW15C on a demonstration lap, setting an unofficial lap record in the process.
