The Fascinating History of Damon Hill’s 1993 Williams FWI5C

The Williams FW15C was an Adrian Newey masterpiece, and in period it was regarded as being the most technologically advanced car in Formula 1 history. It boasted ground-breaking features such as active suspension, traction control, a semi-automatic gearbox and an ABS system. It also famously featured a ‘push to pass’ button on the steering wheel, which would lower the rear suspension to reduce drag from the rear diffuser while simultaneously allowing the engine an extra 300rpm. The Williams car was so effective that it prompted a ban on ‘driver aids’ for the 1994 Formula 1 season. The FW15C was powered by Renault’s V10 RS5 engine, which proved to be the best powerplant in F1 at the time.

Before the first round of the 1993 World Championship, the FW15C was a dead cert to steal the title. The Williams driver line-up was three-time F1 champion Alain Prost（replacing Nigel Mansell), driving alongside Damon Hill, who was making his season debut for Williams.

The car pictured is the Chassis no.02, Hill’s machine, photoed at Concours of Elegance 2020. It’s the car in which he won his first three Formula 1 Grand Prix races, finished in second place four times – including at Donington and Monaco, to Ayrton Senna – and finished third at Montreal in the Canadian Grand Prix.

Following its final race at Monza, which Damon won in no.02, the car remained in the Williams Heritage Collection. The concours entrant purchased it in 2018.

ENGINE

3.5-litre, V10, double-overhead camshafts, 780bhp, fuel injection

CONFIGURATION

Rear engine, six-speed semi-automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive, carbonfibre and Aramid monocoque chassis, hydropneumatic suspension, discs all round