Damon Hill to reunite with championship-winning FW18 at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Damon Hill will drive his 1996 championship-winning Williams FW18 at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, celebrating the 30th anniversary of his title. Team principal James Vowles and drivers Luke Browning and Jamie Chadwick will join the event, marking a significant moment for Williams as it honors its past dominance.
1996 Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill will drive his title-winning Williams FW18 at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, marking the 30th anniversary of his championship. Williams Team Principal James Vowles and drivers Luke Browning and Jamie Chadwick will also participate in the team's celebrations at the iconic British motorsport event.
Why it matters:
This reunion is a powerful symbolic moment for Williams, connecting its glorious past with its current rebuilding phase under Vowles' leadership. For fans, it's a rare opportunity to see a dominant championship car from a legendary era driven by its original champion, celebrating a key piece of F1 history.
The details:
- The event commemorates 30 years since Hill secured the 1996 Drivers' Championship with Williams, which also won the Constructors' title that year.
- The FW18 is one of F1's most dominant cars, winning 12 of the 16 races in the 1996 season.
- Team Principal James Vowles, who drove Nigel Mansell's FW14B at Goodwood last year, will again take to the hillclimb.
- Williams Reserve Driver Luke Browning and WEC driver and former Williams Academy member Jamie Chadwick will join the celebrations.
- Hill will also be honored on the balcony of Goodwood House on Saturday, June 11.
The big picture:
Events like this are crucial for a historic team like Williams as it works to return to competitiveness. Celebrating past successes reinforces the team's heritage and identity for both long-time supporters and a new generation of fans. It bridges the gap between the team's last period of sustained dominance and its ambitious future goals under Vowles' technical direction.
What's next:
The sights and sounds of the FW18 on the Goodwood hillclimb will be the weekend's focal point. For Williams, the celebration is a moment of pride and reflection before the team continues its focused effort to climb back up the F1 grid, hoping future cars can someday emulate the success of the FW18.
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