Mansell to drive newly-restored Williams FW11 at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Nigel Mansell will reunite with the Williams FW11 for the first time since 1986 at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed, with the iconic car having undergone a full period-correct restoration.

In a landmark collaboration between Williams Heritage and Honda, the FW11 – which brought Williams the 1986 Constructors’ Championship – has been fully rebuilt to its original title-winning specification following several months of meticulous restoration.

The car will make its highly-anticipated return to the track at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place from July 10-13, with Mansell set to get behind the wheel on Saturday July 12.

It was with the FW11 that Mansell narrowly missed out on winning the Drivers’ Championship, the Briton having been leading the standings until the season finale in Adelaide where he suffered a heartbreaking tyre failure, forcing him to retire while McLaren’s Alain Prost went on to clinch the title.

As well as being remembered for this, the FW11 was also famed for its groundbreaking technology at the time, featuring pushrod front and pullrod rear double wishbone suspension and a six-speed manual gearbox, in combination with Honda’s RA166E 1.5L V6 twin-turbo engine.

Also getting behind the wheel of the FW11 at Goodwood will be former Williams race winners Thierry Boutsen and Riccardo Patrese, as well as Williams Heritage Ambassador and broadcaster Karun Chandhok.

Williams are additionally set to showcase the iconic FW14B from 1992 during the Festival of Speed, with Mansell scheduled to pilot his championship-winning car while Williams Team Principal James Vowles, plus Jamie Chadwick and Lia Block will also showcase the legendary machine.

“It’s an incredible privilege to celebrate Williams’ rich history at Goodwood, showcasing two of the team’s most iconic cars,” said Vowles.

“The restored FW11 represents a historic collaboration between Atlassian Williams Racing and Honda Motor Co., Ltd, a partnership that defined an era of engineering excellence and championship success.

“Alongside the legendary FW14B, seeing these cars together at Goodwood is a powerful reminder of our rich racing legacy. This event perfectly honours the heritage and innovation that continue to inspire our team today.”

Jonathan Kennard, Heritage Director at Williams, added: “Restoring the FW11 to its original, race-winning condition has been a true labour of love for all here at Williams Heritage. Witnessing the car take to the hill at Goodwood, reunited with Nigel Mansell for the first time since 1986, will be an unforgettable and deeply meaningful moment for everyone involved.

“I’m especially proud to see Atlassian Williams Racing and Honda Motor Co., Ltd come together once again, rekindling a partnership that made history nearly four decades ago. This collaboration stands as a powerful tribute to the remarkable era of innovation and success that we forged in Formula 1.”

Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), also said: “In Honda’s F1 journey since 1964, the FW11 represents a milestone of a perfect combination of engine performance and chassis dynamics.

“Collaborating with Williams Heritage to restore this iconic car honours our shared history and commitment to innovation. Its return to the track at Goodwood, is a fitting celebration of 75 years of Formula 1 and endorses the legacy of engineering excellence and competitive spirit we helped build together over many years.”