Williams Sets Ambitious Goals for 2004

Team boss Frank Williams has set the ambitious target of beating Ferrari to the World Championship next season after unveiling the team's new FW26 car today at the Valencia circuit.

"Our ambition can be nothing other than winning most races, steal Ferrari's crown and add another Championship title to the record," said Williams. "Having any less ambition at the start of the year would be wrong."

Williams finished runner-up to Ferrari last season, but they are confident their revolutionary new car will allow them to beat the Italian World Champions. The FW26 caused stir during its presentation today mainly due to its bizarre front end, which makes it the most radical Williams design for some time.

"It will be immediately evident to onlookers that a high degree of innovative design has gone into the FW26," said chief designer Gavin Fisher.

The FW26 features a distinctively short nose cone, with the front wing main plane and associated assemblies mounted on extended 'tusks'. Williams said the interpretation of the front profile had been conceived in tandem with a twin keel monocoque design, aiding air flow both under and over the front geometries of the car.

The aerodynamics have been conceived under the supervision of the chief aerodynamicist Antonia Terzi, working together with Fisher.

"There has been a great deal of anticipation on our part about this new car," added Fisher. "It has challenged us throughout its development and there is certainly a sense that today is a more significant launch day than in previous years."

The FW26 will be powered by the new BMW P84 engine, which has been designed for the new regulations, which have effectively doubled an engine's lifespan to 800km. Now the cars will have to use the same engine during a whole weekend.

"If an engine has to have a longer service life, especially the components that are highly challenged, mechanically and thermally, must be designed to be tougher," said BMW Director of Motorsport Mario Theissen.

"Bigger and heavier engines compromise power. Minimising these losses while still guaranteeing the increased endurance are the goals we have worked towards."

The car will be driven by Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya.