For Sale: Ex-Patrese 1992 Williams FW14B
Images thanks to Cars International
This Williams FW14B, chassis #10, is up for sale and offered direct from the Williams factory by Official Williams Heritage Agents Cars International.
The FW14B is an updated version of 1991’s highly successful FW14. That car saw seven grand prix victories, although both Williams and Nigel Mansell would finish runners up in 1991 thanks to a supreme Ayrton Senna in the equally-supreme McLaren/Honda MP4/6.
The FW14B would help them go one better in 1992.
LAT Photographic image, thanks to Cars International
This car, chassis #10, kicked off the year as Nigel Mansell’s test & spare car. It got its first taste of Grand Prix action when the Formula 1 paddock rolled into Monaco at the end of May and Mansell’s teammate Riccardo Patrese hopped into it. He put the car second on the grid, behind Mansell, and gave the car its first podium when he finished third.
Patrese was back in the car at the half way point of the season – the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours. Again he qualified second to Mansell, but he was able to slip past and led most of the race before waving Mansell through to finish second.
LAT Photographic image, thanks to Cars International
Chassis #10’s defining moment came in the penultimate round of the season at Suzuka. Mansell had secured the drivers’ title the round prior in Portugal, but second place was wide open with just four points separating Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Riccardo Patrese.
Patrese was able to take the win, ultimately going on to secure second in the drivers’ championship behind Michael Schumacher, in his sophomore season, and Ayrton Senna in fourth.
From there Chassis #10 became a test car for a young Damon Hill. It has since been maintained as a non-running show car and is sold direct from the Williams Private Collection. The sale includes a complete history file including photographs and engineering notes from the Williams Archive as well as a certificate of authenticity.
It’s up for sale at Official Williams Heritage Agents Cars International and you can find more information at their website here.
Enjoy the shots, and read on the full story from Cars International.
LAT Photographic image, thanks to Cars International
1992 The glory days of F1 and a chance to buy a piece of Golden Era directly from the Williams Private Collection – FW14B
Let me take you back it is 1992 – both Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese are vying for the F1 World Championship title, both fiercely competitive.
The FW14 was classic Adrian Newey design and first used in 1991 recording no less that seven victories under the technical direction of Patrick Head.
In 1992, the updated Williams FW14B arrived with active suspension, traction control, and semi-automatic transmission it was clear at the start of the year it was the most technically advanced car on the grid.
Nigel was faster with the new active technology, Adrian Newey once recalled that Nigel would set his cockpit settings in testing and then, on his in-lap he would change the knobs so that when Riccardo’s engineer checked his settings he would get them wrong. Nigel’s engineer David Brown was in on the secret, but Riccardo never knew. Nigel knew Patrese was his biggest threat and a serious rival and he set about beating him any way he could.
In 1992 the Williams FW14B was dominant throughout the season, with Mansell taking the first six poles from six races. As the season progressed it was clearly a two horse race in the fight for the title between Mansell and Patrese. It ended up being Nigel Mansell, but 1992 was to be the start of a run of success for Williams who went on to pick up a further two Constructor titles in 1993 and 1994.
Chassis #10 was instrumental in helping to achieve this success, it served as Nigel Mansell’s test & spare car (T-car) early on in the season, it was then raced in Monaco by Riccardo Patrese who qualified 2nd behind Mansell and finished third after a highly eventful race which saw Senna beat Mansell to the flag.
Chassis #10 was back on the grid at Magny Cour with Riccardo Patrese at the wheel, out qualified once again by Mansell. The two Williams blocked out the front row of the grid, but Patrese got ahead of Mansell in the early laps and led for most of the race. It was a particularly wet race, which was eventually stopped and restarted with Patrese still in the lead and defending. Patrese finally waved his teammate through to finish 2nd place behind Mansell.
The Japanese Grand Prix was Patrese and Chassis #10’s moment of glory, piloted by Patrese to a Formula 1 win, from a front row start. Mansell had already sewn up his Championship title by then, but Patrese got ahead of his team mate on lap 36 to take the flag for a Formula 1 win.
Chassis no 1- later became the test car for Damon Hill who as we know now was enroute to his World F1 title in 1996.
It is unlikely that Williams will be releasing any of the World Title winning cars, so it is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire Chassis #10 with such a rich history. Williams manufacturer success of 92, 93 & 94 may return yet – but for many fans this era remains the F1 glory days.
The car is offered directly from the Williams Private Collection in non-running show car format, and will be supplied with a complete and comprehensive history file containing photographs, engineering notes and other historic documentation from the Williams Archive along with a certificate of authenticity.
For more information visit: http://www.carsinternational.com/williams-heritage/fw14b-10/
LAT Photographic image, thanks to Cars International
