Williams Toyota will on Monday unveil its latest challenger, the FW31, in Portugal. Like many this year, the Grove-based squad are not conducting a full blown 'launch' of the new car.

The team revealed that team test driver and F3 Euroseries winner Nico Hulkenberg will conduct the first test and that the FW31 will feature a 'winter test livery'. The 2009 race livery will be unveiled at the end of February.

For Williams and its main rivals, it is now a race against time ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

"Even by the time the car is launched it is out of date," explained Technical Director Sam Michael.
"By that we mean that some parts on it have already been rendered obsolete by other parts developed in the wind tunnel since it was released from design for manufacture."

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International

 

That's a damn good looking car! Williams is on of the oldest names in the sport, but they really haven't been doing well lately. If it wasn't for their long history in the sport, I would've expected them to drop out when Honda did. Hopefully they'll do a little better this year.