Williams F1 with Variomatic - no more shifting and changing gears

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Williams F1 with Variomatic - no more shifting and changing gears

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Created on October 15, 2017

Text:

Urs Arnold

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Wolfram Hamann

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Archiv/Werk

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Williams FW 15C CVT (1993) - this is what the monoposto with Variomatic looked like, outwardly there was hardly any difference to be seen

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Williams FW 15C CVT (1993) - this is what the monoposto with Variomatic looked like, outwardly there was hardly any difference to be seen

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Williams FW 15C CVT (1993) - this is what the monoposto with Variomatic looked like, outwardly there was hardly any difference to be seen

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Williams FW 15C (1993) - with DAF Variomatic - the monoposto ran at 369 km/h - DAF Museum Eindhoven

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Williams FW 15C (1993) - A look at the engine and technology

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Williams FW 15C (1993) - View of the technology of the active suspension at the front of the monocoque (also a Williams innovation)

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Williams FW 15C (1993) - View of the technology of the active front suspension on the monocoque

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DAF 600 (1959) - often driven by women - from a sales brochure

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DAF Daffodil (1962) - ready for the test drive in Zandvoort (?)

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DAF Formula 3 (1966) - Monoposto with Brabham chassis and Variomatic - Geneva Motor Show 1966

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Williams FW 15C CVT (1993) - so sah der Monoposto mit Variomatic aus, äusserlich war kaum ein Unterschied zu sehen

Williams FW 15C (1993) - mit DAF-Variomatic - 369 km/h lief der Monoposto - DAF-Museum Eindhoven

Williams FW 15C (1993) - Blick auf Motor und Technik

Williams FW 15C (1993) - Blick auf die Technik der aktiven Aufhängung vorne auf dem Monocoque (ebenfalls eine Williams Innovation)

Williams FW 15C (1993) - Blick auf die Technik der aktiven Aufhängung vorne auf dem Monocoque

Summary

In 1992 and 1993, the Williams team dominated Formula 1 at will. Constructor Patrick Head wanted to increase the technical lead even further by using a continuously variable transmission, but the FIA intervened before even one kilometer of racing had been driven. This article looks back at an interesting design that had the potential to change Formula 1 racing.

This article contains the following chapters

Stepless shifting
Cooperation with DAF
Slow breakthrough of the CVT
No racing use
Acoustic culture shock prevented

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In 1992 and 1993, the Williams team dominated Formula 1 at will. This was not only due to its stars Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost. Technical director Patrick Head also played a major role in the team's success. Thanks to Head's help, for example, the previously abandoned active suspension project was revived. The technical gimmick, which guaranteed perfect use of aerodynamics, made the Williams racing cars unbeatable until it was banned in 1994. In 1993, the racing team had another innovation up its sleeve. A so-called Continuously Variable Transmission, or CVT for short, was installed in the FW15C model. The engine was electronically connected to sensors in the transmission. This meant that the engine speed always remained in the range in which the engine generated optimum power.

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Images of this article

Williams FW 15C CVT (1993) - so sah der Monoposto mit Variomatic aus, äusserlich war kaum ein Unterschied zu sehen

Williams FW 15C (1993) - mit DAF-Variomatic - 369 km/h lief der Monoposto - DAF-Museum Eindhoven

Williams FW 15C (1993) - Blick auf Motor und Technik

Williams FW 15C (1993) - Blick auf die Technik der aktiven Aufhängung vorne auf dem Monocoque (ebenfalls eine Williams Innovation)

Williams FW 15C (1993) - Blick auf die Technik der aktiven Aufhängung vorne auf dem Monocoque

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