Blitz spirit

Why UK is at the heart of motorsport

THE TURBO MONSTERS of the 1980s are beloved by many a Formula 1 fan, and the Williams-honda FW11 is a prime example. It won the teams’ title in 1986 and, in B spec, both titles in 1987, thanks to nine wins in a season of sparring between Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell.

Its twin-turbo 1.5-litre V6 made 1000bhp and it weighed a mere 540kg, so 0-160mph took just 10sec.

At the end of the FW11’S tenure, recently retired F1 racer John Watson drove it at Suzuka for Autocar.

“I was amazed at its remarkable tractability,” he began. “There didn’t seem to be one area in the power curve where a flat spot was detectable. In fact, it’s only when you get above 7000rpm and the boost pressure begins to build very quickly that you actually become aware of how much power there is.

“The steering is light but with quite sharp kickback if you happen to touch a kerb. The physical effort in steering this car is actually quite low.

“The braking system provided really reassuring performance. It was undoubtedly aided by that barn door of a rear wing, for as soon as you lift off, it feels as though someone has stuck out a giant hand and stopped the car.

“In terms of feel, the FW11B is quite forgiving. Like with any racing car, though, getting the best out of it on the limit is difficult, even though it appears to retain its poise and controllability.

“There’s no doubt the potential of the chassis is very high, but you have to work for it. It doesn’t just automatically happen for you; it comes through familiarisation.”