Among the many fabulous things to see and do at Suzuka last week was an amazing display of historic cars that have been associated with the Honda brand over the years.
This is the Williams-Honda FW11, the car designed by Patrick Head and Frank Dernie which competed in the 1986 season in the hands of Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. The car won on its first outing in Brazil, and the team that year's constructor's championship, and the following year a revised version of the car with an active suspension system - the FW11B - also saw Piquet claim the drivers' crown.
In total the FW11 and FW11B took part in 32 races and claimed 18 wins, 16 pole positions and 17 fastest laps.
Sadly, the FW11B was the last Williams car to be powered by a Honda engine. The following season the Japanese manufacturer partnered with McLaren instead despite there being a year left to run on Honda's contact with the Grove-based team.
Williams were forced to switch to a Judd engine but the new collaboration did not go well. Mansell suffered 12 retirements in 14 races in the 1988 season and his new team mate Riccardo Patrese also retired eight times. There would be no third consecutive constructors' title for Williams that year.
