FWA, founded by Frank’s daughter and former vice-captain Claire, aims to raise £1.5m in its first three years to kick-start its work.
This will aim to improve the lives of people who have suffered life-changing spinal cord injuries and the organization was created in association with the Spinal Injury Association (SIA).
SIA, which supported Frank Williams after he was injured in a crash in 1986, is the official charity of the Williams F1 team, which the Williams family sold to US investment firm Dorilton Capital in 2020.
Claire Williams is SIA Vice President – a position she has held since 2016 – and established FWA in memory of her father and based on the lessons he learned while treating spinal cord injuries, These include securing 16 F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles following 12 of his accidents.
The FWA was officially launched by Claire Williams SIA patron The Princess Royal at an event at London’s Hoare Memorial Hall in the presence of current Williams Team Leader James Vowles and board members Matthew Savage and James Matthews.
Launch Frank Williams Academy with Claire Williams
Photography: Williams
During the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, the FWA logo will appear on the sides of the FW45 cars driven by current Williams drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant.
Claire Williams said: “My dad lived the most extraordinary life, especially as one of the most successful team principals in F1 history, and spent most of his time as a quadriplegic in a wheelchair.”
“His tenacity in the face of such adversity was just one of many factors that made him an inspiration to many while he was alive.
“After his passing, I wanted to do something to continue that legacy, and Frank Williams College couldn’t be more fitting.
“The work the academy will do will provide potentially life-changing care for people with spinal cord injuries, just as the SIA did for my father.
“With this kind of support, the range of possibilities is limitless.”
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Savage added: “We are delighted to support the launch of the Frank Williams Academy.
Launch Frank Williams Academy with Claire Williams
Photography: Williams
“It is truly special to commemorate the life of Sir Frank by providing basic education, care and support to make a difference in the lives of those affected by spinal cord injuries.
“Everyone at Williams looks forward to helping the Academy thrive.”
It was launched with four main goals: to provide education and training for people with spinal cord injuries and medical professionals, to fund new research to drive new and better care, to provide support for people with spinal cord injuries, and to improve the standard of care at the national level.
While Fernando Alonso is not yet in contention for a win in 2023, the Spaniard’s performance in a relatively strong Aston Martin looks like a comeback. With a slightly better car, the nearly 42-year-old F1 driver could challenge Max Verstappen. A fight that everyone, including Pedro de la Rosa, wanted to see.
The new composites department will be based at the same factory McLaren used before it moved its huge MTC facility two miles away from Woking center in 2003, and will start production later this summer.
The team believes the investment in its new manufacturing process is comparable to other major infrastructure upgrades that are also nearing completion, including its new MTC wind tunnel and F1 driving simulator.
It is equipping the new composites facility with the latest machines needed for this type of work, compared to the tools it already uses.
By moving the composites department to a dedicated stand-alone facility away from the MTC, it is understood McLaren will save significant time in the production of parts for its F1 machines, as well as the initial build process for new cars.
Speaking about the department relocation for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella explained: “I am delighted to say that the old factory has been converted into the new McLaren racing complex.
“This is really the final sprint and it will be done in a few months. It’s an amazing project.
“We’ve created some space at the MTC that we’ll use for traditional cars.”
McLaren old Formula 1 factory
Photography: McLaren
McLaren also owns another building near the old site, which is about to open as a new composites factory, and which currently houses most of its historic F1 car collection – although the MTC still has a large collection.
The warehouse for extra legacy machinery (pictured above) is also used to store spare kits – such as F1 weekend garage and pit wall components – for use by the McLaren team.
Once the legacy car is moved and permanently displayed on MTC’s famous Front Boulevard area, it will continue to be used to house such equipment.
Autosport was part of a select group of media who toured the building that currently houses the heritage collection outside the MTC, with team chief operating officer Piers Thynne outlining why historic cars and other elements – including parts Original drawings and the laptops needed to start and maintain old cars – an important development for McLaren.
McLaren old Formula 1 factory
Photography: McLaren
“The legacy teams are definitely part of the Formula 1 organization and it’s an interesting story as to why they’re there (away from the MTC in the current building),” Thynne said.
“We have invested heavily in various infrastructure projects in Formula 1, which has allowed us to have a longer ‘holiday’ in the warehouse than we originally wanted.
“But it’s related to our long-term infrastructure projects — wind tunnels, simulators, new complex facilities and other work that’s going on at the MTC.
“So, they’re on vacation there, they’re going to be back at the MTC at the end of the year, and rightly in front of the house on the boulevard.
“It’s important to have these show cars around us to remind everyone of our rich history.
“Apart from our day-to-day work, any inspiration (McLaren employees) might need, you can see it on the way to lunch or for a drink.”
At the Spanish Grand Prix, F1 entered a dedicated permanent track for the first time since the season opener in Bahrain. Due to the nature of the Circuit de Catalunya, teams usually implement a lot of upgrade packages on their cars, as it is well known that if a team performs well in Barcelona, they stand a good chance of doing well for most of the remainder of the calendar. repertoire.