Chandhok Joins Williams for Heritage Driving Role

The 32-year-old Indian, who raced in 11 Grands Prix for HRT and Lotus in 2010-11 and has since competed in the FIA’s World Endurance and Formula E Championships, will test and demonstrate Williams Heritage’s sensational line-up of Grand Prix- and world title-winning machines, starting with this weekend’s Festival of Speed.

Chandhok will tackle the Hillclimb course behind the wheel of a 3-litre Cosworth DFV-powered FW08C from 1983, a sister chassis to the one used by Keke Rosberg to win in Monaco that year, as well as a 3.5-litre Renault V10-motivated FW13B from 1990 – a similar car to that used by Riccardo Patrese to win the San Marino GP and by Thierry Boutsen to triumph in Hungary.

Williams Heritage runs the famous British team’s stock of racers from the late-1970s to the present day, airing them at public events and preparing cars for sale to private collectors.

Chandhok, an enthusiastic purveyor of motorsport history, said: “Williams is such an iconic British team, steeped in racing history, so it’s a real honour to be involved in its Heritage programme. So many of the Williams Heritage cars are pieces of racing history with great stories to tell, so to be offered the chance to get up close and personal and drive them – sometimes being the first person to do so in decades – is an incredible opportunity. I look forward to not only demonstrating the cars from time to time, but working with other Williams car owners to help them fully enjoy their experience of driving these pieces of F1 history.”

Williams Heritage is run by Jonathan Williams, son of team founder Sir Frank, and he’s delighted to welcome Chandhok to the family firm and reckons the Festival of Speed is the perfect place for the relationship to go public.

“With a wealth of experience in a wide range of championships, including Formula 1, GT, LMP1 and Formula E, Karun was the ideal candidate to be our Heritage driver,” he says. “What’s more, he has a real passion for motorsport history and is a font of knowledge when it comes to Formula 1. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a highlight of the motorsport calendar, always providing fans with a truly impressive collection of modern and historic cars. We are very much looking forward to taking part in the event once more.”