Williams team principal James Vowles described his mad dash up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed onboard Nigel Mansell’s legendary Williams FW14B as a “dream come true”.
Behind the wheel of the 1992 championship-winning car, Vowles embraced a rare opportunity to connect with Williams’ storied history in a way few team principals ever experience.
The 46-year-old Briton is actually pretty handy behind the wheel, having competitively manhandled GT3 and Asia Le Mans Series machinery in the past. But the chance to drive one of the most iconic machines in Formula 1 history was something else entirely.
“Right, that’s day over for me at Goodwood and what an incredible day it’s been,” commented an ecstatic Vowles after his final run.
“It’s been a childhood dream of mine to do Goodwood in the FW14B. First of all, that’s not true. To see the 14B and touch it would be a childhood dream.
“But to go beyond that and have the ability to drive it at Goodwood in front of hundreds of thousands of people – it’s a dream come true.”
A Beast of a Machine
The FW14B, famed for its advanced traction control, active suspension, and cutting-edge electronics, dominated the 1992 F1 season with Mansell and teammate Riccardo Patrese.
Despite Goodwood’s natural limitations, Vowles was struck by its raw performance on the narrow, dusty hillclimb, lined with hay bales.
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“The 14B itself is a proper racing car. There’s just no two ways about it. It’s very light, very nimble, with a huge amount of power. And a place like Goodwood—it’s a fantastic element to be,” he said.
“It’s still just a road that is quite dusty, with hay bales around us. So a note of caution whilst I’m still enjoying my time out there.”
The car’s historical significance wasn’t lost on Vowles, who drove with an acute sense of responsibility to preserve its legacy.
“It’s brilliant. What I love about this is the heritage team have done such a good job. This is all original. This is really Nigel’s car that he won the championship with in 1992,” he noted.
“So everything is one of one in this one, so I can assure you what goes through your mind is ‘look after it all the time’. But it’s a beast—it just urges you to go faster and faster.”
A Moment Shared With a Legend
Adding a surreal layer to the experience, Vowles was in direct radio contact with Nigel Mansell himself, who was right behind driving the Williams FW11.
“We have Nigel Mansell here who is driving the FW11,” Vowles revealed.
“We have one radio frequency, so he and I have been chatting together whilst I’m driving the 14B, and that sort of blows my mind.
“He’s as cool as a cucumber and it’s fantastic to have him here today.”
For Vowles, the Goodwood run was more than a thrill – it was a bridge to Williams’ golden era, a moment where his role as team principal and his passion for racing converged in a heartwarming and spectacular fashion.
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