Thirty years on: what the FW18 still means
Damon Hill reflects on driving one of our most iconic championship-winning cars, plus Jamie Chadwick and James Vowles have their say
Published
13 OCT 2026
Est. reading time
4 min
Thirty years ago on 13th October, Damon Hill won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka to clinch the 1996 Drivers’ World Championship, prompting one of the most famous lines in all of sports commentary:
“And Damon Hill exits the chicane and wins the Japanese Grand Prix – and I've got to stop, because I've got a lump in my throat." - Murray Walker
Damon's crowning moment at Suzuka, 1996
Earlier this year at Goodwood Festival of Speed, Damon, Jamie Chadwick and Team Principal James Vowles each drove the car that took him there, the FW18.
“There’s still enthusiasm for something that happened 30 years ago. I think that’s an astonishing thing about our sport,” said Damon. “New fans want to learn about the history, how we got to where we are and the evolution. Cars from a certain era have a unique quality we can only be in awe of, because humans drove them.”
For James, that history is personal. “It’s a really special moment. It ties up beautifully with our legacy, which is why I’m here. It’s why I followed Williams 30 years ago,” he said. “30 years ago, it would have been a dream to be in Formula 1. Instead, I’ve had the opportunity to not just drive but to try a fully restored championship car. It’s a dream come true, and I was speechless afterwards, because it’s really emotive for me.”
The crowd greets Damon at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026
Behind the wheel
For Damon, the reunion began before he had even climbed in. “You smell it before you get in it. It’s got a perfume-like smell. They used to call it aromatics, the additives they put in fuel. It’s a slightly different fuel they’re using, and I could tell it was different because I remember the smell being slightly different. So it’s a bit like meeting a girl with a different perfume, 30 years on.”
Jamie, who has driven both the FW08 and FW14B, said the FW18 stands out among the Williams hHeritage cars she has driven. “Every time I have an opportunity to drive any car up this hill, it’s always special, but the Williams cars that I’ve been lucky enough to drive have been particularly special,” she said.
JV behind the wheel of the FW18 at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Once in the cockpit, the car’s character came through. “It’s an incredible piece of machinery. Once you get above a certain amount of RPM, you really feel like it’s a Formula 1 car,” said the three-time W Series champion. “You also feel incredibly exposed, and you realise how different it was for the drivers back then.”
JV felt the same directness. “It felt brand new. I spoke to Damon and he mirrored the same comments, which shows the quality of the build. I was literally bolted onto the carbon, my backside in contact with it, and you could feel everything. Very direct, very responsive, and it just makes you want to go faster.”
That is the quality Damon remembers. “It’s so close to perfection, from my experience of racing cars,” he said. “I think everyone should have a go. It was beautiful.”
It is also a testament to the Williams Heritage team. “They’ve restored it perfectly. The V10 engine and the gearbox are incredibly smooth,” said Vowles. “I was playing around with it, wheelspinning away up and down, and it’s almost priceless, yet I was happy to do that, because that’s how great the car was. I’m proud of the team.”
Damon re-united with his FW18 30 years on
Looking forward
For Jamie, the car’s story reaches beyond the past. “I want as many young women as possible to get involved in the sport. I want to show that it’s possible,” she said. “When I look at the FW18 and how well prepared it is, there are so many different roles it takes to get that car on the start line. I hope they see that and want to get involved too.”
And for James, it comes back to a single moment. “When you’re going up the hill, you’re really focussed on what you’re doing. But once we get to the top, turn the cars around and come back down, that’s the moment to take it all in, waving to 100,000 people who are there to celebrate motorsport. That’s the moment, I think.”
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