Vowles to drive iconic Williams FW08 at Goodwood FOS

Williams Racing will be heading to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, and none other than team principal James Vowles will be leading the charge at the wheel of one of the British outfit's most iconic cars!

The Williams boss will ditch his highchair on the pitwall for the driver’s seat of the team's 1982 championship winning FW08, the very car driven in anger to the world title that year by F1 legend Keke Rosberg.

However, Vowles won’t be the only current member of the Williams to savour the roar and thunder of a classic F1 car as Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant – the Grove-based outfit’s current line-up – as well as F1 Academy racer Lia Block will share in the thrilling experience.

But for Vowles and Block, it will be their first taste of driving a Williams F1 car.

"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,” commented Vowles.

“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."

©Williams

This year’s 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed is dedicated to honoring the evolution of propulsion. Under the theme "Horseless to Hybrid – Revolutions in Power," the event will guide attendees through a remarkable journey of the motoring industry, encompassing over 130 years of innovation.

It will reflect on the significant strides made by the automotive sector while also offering glimpses into its promising future.

“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’,” said the Duke of Rickmond, the distinguished found of the Good Festival of Speed.

“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.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.