"Introduced in 1979, the Patrick Head designed FW07 established Williams as a Grand Prix winning team. In FW07B guise and with Alan Jones at the wheel, it was used to clinch the first World Championships for the British team. The success continued in 1981 with the FW07C, which enabled Williams to successfully defend the constructor's World Championship. Although still a race winning machine, the FW07 was finally superseded by the all-new FW08 in 1982.
Not surprisingly, the FW08 did carry over many of the design features that made the FW07 so successful. Compared to its predecessor, the new-for-1982 Williams featured a more compact and stronger moncoque chassis. Unlike some of the rivals, who had switched to exotic composite materials, Williams once again relied on old-fashioned aluminium to construct the chassis. The most significant difference between the FW07 and the FW08 was a wheelbase reduction of 10 cm.
One of the main reasons to further increase the rigidity of the chassis was a change in the regulations, which banned the sliding lateral skirts at the start of the 1981 season. These were an intricate element of the ground effect aerodynamics used to generate a vast majority of the car's vital downforce. In order to maintain a seal between the fixed skirts and the road, the suspension was further stiffened, which in turn put additional strain on the chassis.
Another tried and trust component was the venerable Ford Cosworth DFV engine, which was used as a fully stressed member. With just over 500 bhp on tap, it was not quite as powerful as the new generation turbo engines but it was certainly more reliable. As an added benefit, the compact and uncomplicated V8 did allow the FW08 to make the minimum weight limit. Like the other Cosworth-powered teams, Williams also briefly ran water-cooled brakes, which used water to ballast the car to the limit only to release it on the opening lap. Not surprisingly, the system was quickly banned.
Williams started the season with a pair of uprated FW07Cs, driving by Keijo Rosberg and Carlos Reutemann. From the European rounds, the new FW08 was used and by this time Derek Daly had taken Reutemann's place; the Argentinean had suddenly retired after just two races. Starting an impressive third on the grid, Rosberg placed second in the FW08's debut at Zolder, which was overshadowed by the fatal accident of Gilles Villeneuve in qualifying.
During the remainder of the season, the turbo-charged Renaults and Ferraris proved faster than the Williams FW08. Rosberg nevertheless consistently managed to rake in the points. The reliably Fin ultimately managed to score only one win, at the Swiss Grand Prix after starting a lowly eighth on the grid. Despite taking just a single victory, Rosberg's consistency and the misfortune of the principle rivals proved sufficient for him to claim the World Championship. Williams was only fourth in the constructor's table.
During the off-season testing period one of the main reasons for the shortened wheelbase was revealed as Williams commenced testing an FW08 with four rear wheels. These provided added traction and also freed up room for longer ground effect tunnels. The FW08B was understood to be blisteringly quick in testing but the car was never raced as for 1983, cars were limited to just four wheels. Additionally, ground effect aerodynamics were banned altogether with the introduction of a mandatory flat bottom.
The ground effect ban came relatively late in the year, forcing most teams, including Williams to adapt their existing design. The result was the FW08C, which looked significantly different than its immediate predecessor but actually used the same chassis and running gear. The changes focused on the side pods, which no longer needed to run the full length of the car for the ground effect tunnels. Instead very minimalistic side pods were fitted on either side of the engine to house the radiators.
By 1983, the turbocharged cars were as reliable as they were quick, which left Williams drivers Rosberg and Jacques Laffite fighting for ever smaller scraps. Rosberg did manage to win the Monaco Grand Prix on the streets of Monte Carlo where power is not that critical. There was light at the end of the tunnel as Williams commenced testing the Honda turbo-engined FW09 in the fall of 1983. As the last Cosworth DFV powered and ground effect car to win the World Championship, the Williams FW08 represents an end of era."
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The FW08C also has the distinction of being the first Formula One car ever driven by Ayrton Senna, at Donington Park in July 1983, after he badgered team boss Frank Williams for a test after being sat beside him on a flight.