Williams commemorates 40 years of F1 with day out at Silverstone

Williams celebrated its 40 years of Grand Prix racing today at Silverstone with a gathering of cars and drivers, past and present.

The event marked the team's four decades of the Frank Williams/Patrick Head era at the pinnacle of motor sport since its beginnings at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1977.

Williams' outstanding heritage includes 114 Grand Prix wins, nine Constructors' championships and seven Drivers' titles won by Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve.

Since the team's debut in 1977, Williams have led a combined 35,253 kilometres in Formula 1.

It was a huge turnout, with many iconic cars from the Didcot and Grove stables and forty thousand fans.

And a bit of rain for good measure, because... it's Silverstone.

Here are a few shots from Williams' commemorative day.

It all started at the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix with this March 761 which Williams entered for Patrick Nève. Nico Rosberg appeared to take a keen interest in a car which raced eight years before he was born!

The Williams inventory here this morning was rich and glorious, and ready for action.