DRIVEN | Keke Rosberg's 1982 F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER - the Williams FW08

1982 Formula One World Champion, Keke Rosberg, used three different chassis throughout his title-winning season, and this is one of them.
Williams chassis FW08-1 was driven by Rosberg to two podiums that year, including that of the Austrian GP, where he crossed the line virtually neck-and-neck with Elio de Angelis' Lotus in what become one of F1's closest ever finishes.
The FW08 is powered by Ford's inimitable 3.0L Cosworth DFV and is among the very last of the 'ground-effect' era cars. But against the new-fangled turbo-powered entries of rivals such as Ferrari and Renault, Williams carried a huge horsepower deficit in 1982, leading to some extraordinary lateral thinking from designer's Patrick Head, Frank Dernie and Neil Oatley.
Join me onboard this phenomenal race car to see not only how it drives, but how it does it so well - and how the unique developments to this very chassis could have changed the fundamental look of Formula One for ever.
FW08-1 IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
VISIT WWW.SAMHANCOCK.COM FOR DETAILS.
If you enjoy the film, please like and subscribe for more track tests of iconic competition classics.

[@parallaxview2143]

Always loved this car, it's livery and the flying Finn who drove it to ultimate victory.

[@ernestomartinez4090]

I'll never forget Keke Rosberg driving this car and chasing like crazy on Elio De Angelis' Lotus at the old Osterriechring on the last few laps trying to win that race back in 1982.

[@Commander-McBragg]

He left massive rubber marks going up the hill!

[@ljw5768]

I started watching F1 properly in 1980/81 when Villeneuve was the guy you wanted to watch on track. Come 1982 following his arrival at Williams, Keke became the other guy you wanted to watch. Always entertaining and never leaving anything out there. I feel sad that his Championship is overlooked by some due to him only winning the one race (in Dijon, I was there) and because of the tragedies of that year, Paletti, Villeneuve and Pironi. I was lucky enough to be present for Keke’s first two GP wins and for his Brands Hatch Race of Champions win. My F1 hero.

[@ernestomartinez4090]

@@ljw5768 wow!!! You lucky bastard!!!! What a character Keke was and still is.

[@detonator2112]

I wasn't even alive then but I've watched that race and it must have been incredible to see it in the flesh. One of the best races I've seen. Another amazing race of Keke was the Dallas 1984 GP. Crazy underpowered Williams with bad chassis (even Patrick Head admitted the 1984 car was rubbish). Keke won Dallas GP with that sh*tbox. He was one badass driver.

[@ljw5768]

@@detonator2112 that 1984 Williams was like a truck. How he won that race on it I’ll never know. The track was falling to pieces. Everyone was going off. Keke didn’t.

[@MarcTheWatchman]

This is one of the best racing videos I've ever seen on KZbin. Thank you so much for making this video - what a masterpiece!

[@hancock_sam]

That's so kind, thank you, am glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[@1983dmd]

Thank you sooo much for this video M. Hancock. I am 62 and it brings back so many memories ! You are a very good driver too !

[@hancock_sam]

You are very welcome 🙏🏻

[@gigantor62]

I had goose bumps watching this. I saw every race that year. Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories.

[@hahtos]

Wow, that is just so cool and brings back memories watching F1 back in those days. It's amazing to see these cars in HD vs the small telly I was watching as it happened.

[@LifeOfACarNerd]

Awesome editing and video but what really makes the video work is how Sam interacts with us - completely down to earth, knowledgeable and always with a smile on his face - please KZbin show this to more people. And I had no idea the FW08 had a 6-wheel variant, althought from some angles it makes me think a bit of the stance that those 90's Formula Ford have, thanks to the skinny and small rear wheels! Also, the driver cam is pretty awesome. Keep it up Sam!

[@hancock_sam]

Hey Alvaro, nice to hear from you. Thanks for your nice message, really glad you enjoyed it. By all means share with your Classic Racing School community!;)

[@detonator2112]

People seem to forget how good Keke was 82-85. Won the title with that underpowered car. 83 and 84 Williams was completely uncompetitive. It was like 40 km/h slower on straights than Brabham, McLaren and Ferrari. Keke won two street circuit races with that pig of a car (Monaco 1983 and Dallas 1984 were impressive drives) and beat Laffite 13-1 and 14-1. 1985 he was probably the fastest man on the grid and made Mansell look like an amateur. Williams got faster 1985 but the car wasn't reliable. Then 1986 hampered his reputation. The McLaren was designed for Prost and Keke couldn't drive that car because it was so understeery. Great driver, very underrated champ.

[@karlstannard662]

I was lucky to see Rosberg race in many a time in the Williams from 82 to 85 . Was always 110% comitted. His drive at Dijon in 82 chasing Prost over the last 10 laps unreal.

[@detonator2112]

@@karlstannard662 The most impressive Keke drive was the Silverstone 1978 non-GP race, which he won in a Theodore in torrential rail. A car that was so slow that it couldn't qualify to normal races. But it was a crazy rain, crazy race. Check that out, it's on KZbin.

[@rasmuswellejus]

It might have been underpowered but that made it so much more reliable than a turbo engine and keep getting points nice and steady has proven to be better than winning a couple of races at least back then but it is a beautiful car for sure and Kiki was good no doubt about that

[@hmdwgf]

40 km/h slower on the straight than the McLaren? McLaren were powered by the DFV like Williams were that season. I think you meant Renault, who like Brabham and Ferrari had turbo engines. The FW08 was certainly not a pig of a car- it was clearly fast, and the C-spec ‘83 car was the quickest of all the non-turbo cars that year- but the FW09, with that badly under-engineered and volatile Honda engine was a pig of a car.

[@detonator2112]

​@@hmdwgf Yes in 1982 McLaren's were Cosworths. But they got the TAG/Porsche turbo engine for 1983 whereas Williams only got their Honda turbo for the last race of 1983 for Kyalami. And even in 1984 it was way inferior, unrealiable and slow. And even Patrick Head admitted the 1983 and 1984 cars were horrible. 1985 Honda turbo got the power but Keke had 5 1st place DNF's that season. He left Williams just when the car got good in 1986. Cheers.

[@NineEleven1]

incredible videos you have. It's a shame you don't have more viewers. You trully deserve that Sam

[@hancock_sam]

I appreciate that! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@mattcarlyon3334]

Another wonderful film to sit down to and enjoy my morning coffee with. As always, the enthusiasm shon through, expert driving, fantastic visuals and in car footage too. A real pleasure to watch, I really hope you’re able to keep doing this kind of thing. So many people doing this stuff these days but few people as as genuine, talented and easy to watch as yourself. Here’s to big things coming!

[@hancock_sam]

That's super kind, thanks Matt, really nice to hear that and glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully plenty more of these to come.

[@adrianwelgemoed9562]

Your channel is seriously underrated. Im gonna start recommending it to my friends

[@hancock_sam]

hat's really kind, thanks Adrian

[@mark4lev]

Glad you mentioned frank dernie. Williams success is down to him, after all the car is an aero device.

[@theduckofevil]

A fantastic video. Probably the best in car footage I have ever seen. Thank you for making this video.

[@hancock_sam]

Was definitely my pleasure Michael! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, much appreciated.

[@natepalsa2690]

YES YES YES Fantastic footage, thank you for gathering and sharing with us!

[@hancock_sam]

You’re most welcome, glad you enjoyed it:)

[@adrianwelgemoed9562]

I think thats the happiest I've ever seen you

[@hancock_sam]

Ha, certainly right up there!

[@TheMotorEddy]

Sam, thanks for making and sharing these films. I realise that it adds a lot of extra work to what must already be a very busy workday for you....but we really, really appreciate your energy and passion, and your oh-so-articulate description of what makes these old, iconic race cars so special.

[@hancock_sam]

Thanks Eddy, so nice to hear and much appreciated. Will keep making as many of these as I can so stay tuned (and subscribe;)

[@Alexhoning]

100% the best racing channel on youtube right now, actually just car channel period. Infectious passion, expert knowledge with the best description of driving I've ever heard, delivered with with incredible humbleness and sense of gratefulness. Your Apex & Collecting Cars Podcast interviews were fantastic, the truest modern day incarnation of a true (pro) gentleman racer. Literally the only thing that would make the onboard footage marginally better would be a picture in picture footcam (best motoring style). May be tough to squeeze a GoPro in the footwell of an old F1 car though. Keep it going and hope you get more incredible racecar commissions to make amazing content from. MG Lola LMP2 Next?!

[@hancock_sam]

Thanks so much Alexander, I really appreciate that. And, yes, I totally agree about a footwell cam, I've always enjoyed those. But you're right, wasn't so easy to fit (or light) in this car, but will def keep in mind for future films for sure. Thanks for watching, and commenting.

[@Sev91]

What a phenomenal video. Seeing you so ecstatic whilst driving this legendary car made me smile.

[@hancock_sam]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Heliosphan33]

What a privilege to drive the FW08.

[@brg456]

Wonderful! Im so pleased to have discovered your channel Sam.

[@hancock_sam]

Welcome aboard!

[@seamountseamount]

great video; I love old F1 cars, I hope to see more of them driven (and commented live 🙂) by you.

[@hancock_sam]

Thanks, will do!

[@reecemoore3951]

How does this not have more views ?

[@garyporter-smith9658]

Fantastic video Sam . Thanks

[@hancock_sam]

Many thanks!

[@tangowilliams1244]

Great video!!! More please 👏👏👏

[@hancock_sam]

Cheers!

[@LarryLinton]

Goosebumps bigtime..... I'd sell my grandmother to drive that car. 😅 Great vid Sam

[@hancock_sam]

haha, thanks, I suspect you're not alone;) Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Spectrolite1]

Such a beauty that car

[@tracypippenger4806]

Excellent video very smooth driving how about a bt 49 Brabham?

[@ape_status]

Amazing stuff!

[@hancock_sam]

Thank you!

[@moacirschneider5096]

keke rosberg number 1 f1 pilot, i am from brasil

[@jaymalamute5730]

One question. I've noticed that both 1982 and 1983 models of FW08 had a narrower rear wheel span, while the front wheel span was wider. I'd like some more information about the reasons behind that. Was it something to do with steering?

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

WTF, it is all engine, with a little steering wheel plucked on the front. Always loved the cigarette smoking Keke, Mr Kool !!!

[@jeshkam]

That thing seems so tiny compared to today's F1 cars.

[@hancock_sam]

I know what you mean - luckily though not too small inside, I'm 6'2" and was pretty comfortable in it.

[@PineTreePal]

Unreal how few views this has. On par with anything from TG or Carfection.

[@hancock_sam]

Thanks Seth, really appreciate that - would certainly be nice to get a few more views;))

[@PineTreePal]

@@hancock_sam We appreciate you. Keep up what you're doing. We love ya for it.

[@psychedelicsuns8600]

Do you have to use clutch on every shift, or is it dogbox gearbox? :)

[@hancock_sam]

Dog box, so clutch only on downshift.

[@Dashriprock4]

Yassssssss!!!!!!!

[@imwithname843]

1995

[@brittenyevans1101]

Keke Rosberg is the fucking GOAT 🐐