Williams F1 Spark
Government Ministers Visit Williams F1 and Williams Technology Centre Qatar
Posted on Friday 16 Dec 2011
Williams F1 entertained two ministerial visits this week when Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint visited the team’s factory at Grove and Lord Astor of Hever, Undersecretary of State for the Ministry of Defence visited the Williams Technology Centre in Qatar.
The visits follow significant progress being made by Williams Hybrid Power (WHP) and the Williams Technology Centre, Qatar (WTCQ). WHP and WTCQ develop and deploy the team’s advanced engineering capabilities in a range of applications outside of motorsport, including the use of flywheel technology to increase energy efficiency in stationery and mobile applications and simulators to improve road safety and energy efficiency in everyday driving situations.
Lord Astor in the Williams F1 simular at WTCQ
Lord Green’s visit to the team’s factory in Grove on Tuesday was the second visit to a Williams facility this year. Following a trip to WTCQ in February, Lord Green came for an update on the latest developments at WHP. While on site, Lord Green was briefed on the flywheel and shown the team’s state of the art, driver-in-the-loop simulator technology before concluding with a tour of the Jaguar C-X75 working area, a project which demonstrates the crossover of Formula One technologies such as kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) and composite materials into road car engineering.
The following day, the team’s Technology Centre in Qatar received Lord Astor to provide a briefing on the advanced engineering capabilities that are helping to make the country’s ambitious transport and electricity infrastructure more efficient and reliable. The visit included an insight into the use of Williams’ flywheel technology in rapid transit and renewable energy applications and a demonstration of the team’s simulator programme that included for the former President of the MIA driving a virtual lap of the Abu Dhabi Yas Island Marina circuit.
On his visit to Williams F1, Lord Green commented, “"The development and commercialisation of Williams F1’s advanced engineering capabilities represent a beacon of excellence in the UK engineering industry. It reinforces the message that Britain is a world leader in engineering technologies. I was impressed to see firsthand the benefits F1-inspired technologies will have, not least when it comes to improving energy efficiency, and I look forward to following the company's progress as it looks to export its advanced engineering capabilities around the world."
While Lord Astor commented, “Having been involved in the world of motorsport for many years it is very exciting to see first-hand the active commercialisation of Formula One technology at the Williams Technology Centre. The Qatar Science and Technology park have recognised that there are considerable opportunities for this cutting-edge technology to be applied to every day uses, and have made a commitment to its continued development.”
The week’s events concluded with Williams F1 CEO, Alex Burns giving the Christmas Lecture at The Institution of Engineering Technology conference on the team’s diversification strategy on Wednesday evening. Alex Burns said, “It has been great to have these opportunities to describe our diversification strategy to Government Ministers and fellow engineers this week. The way we are using our Formula One technology, know-how and culture to make a difference in energy efficiency, road safety and education always excites keen interest.”
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