All I can say is....

[mapguy]

Wow.

Check out the new Williams-BMW front nose.

http://www.bmw.williamsf1.com/ms/images/de/4_serien/41_f1/411_news/4111_f1/kw01/0501_01_gr.jpg

Sorry about the image size as it was the biggest I can find.

[Cam]

I agree! WTF is this?

http://f1.racing-live.com/photos/imgactu/04/williams-launch_050104_220x137.jpg

:eek:

[JoeBob]

http://www.bmw.williamsf1.com/ms/images/de/4_serien/41_f1/411_news/4114_galerie/00_launch/00_launch_04.jpg

http://www.bmw.williamsf1.com/ms/images/de/4_serien/41_f1/411_news/4114_galerie/00_launch/00_launch_02.jpg

[anait]

Looks kinda like a Lego Bionicle Kanohi mask... :D

[chop456]

I like it. Not from a looks perspective, but it's refreshing to see someone take a chance on a design besides Jordan or Arrows. I hope it stomps Ferrari ass.

And if it doesn't work out, they could plumb some hydraulics onto those tusks and have the world's coolest front end loader.

[Don Quixote]

It looks fast! :cool:

[Warlock!]

Originally posted by chop456
And if it doesn't work out, they could plumb some hydraulics onto those tusks and have the world's coolest front end loader.
OMG... that's the first thing I thought after seeing this... A helluvan expensive skid-steer loader! :D

Winter Warlock!

[RichK]

I like chop's attitude about a new direction, but I think it's the ugliest car in a long time.

It looks like a cow-catcher (insert Sarah-to-F1 joke here).

[FTG]

I'm not an engineer, but it looks fast to me.

I bet Ferrari has already mocked up a knock off and is testing it in the wind tunnel.

[pchall]

It sort of looks like the nose of a BT34 without the radiators. BTW, what's up with the crotch shot with the drivers...? ;)

[RichK]

After looking again, it looks like the nose section might provide a little more downforce than last year, since the new wing mounts also serve as endplates for the nose.

[Turn7]

invent

[Wheel-Nut]

Should make it harder for Ralf to knock the front wing off this year, or JPM for that matter. Not enough room in the corner, MS pinching down on you, hit them with that stout bastard.

[cartcanuck]

That's what I thought Wheel-nut :) I wonder if it actually is any more solid that the regular type of wing assembly?

I like to see Williams being innovative, but I have to admit, in my opinion this looks to be just a little ugly. It might be good for cooling and downforce, but just isn't aesthetically appealing (to me anyways). But winning doesn't always go along with good looks does it?

It will certainly be interesting to see lap times for this car in comparision to last year and to the Ferrari. I wonder what the chances are of this wing assembly getting through the first half of the year?

[Don Quixote]

Originally posted by FTG
I'm not an engineer, but it looks fast to me.

I bet Ferrari has already mocked up a knock off and is testing it in the wind tunnel.

Wouldn't it be funny if this whole thing is some giant red herring made to throw other teams off and cause them to waste valuable wind tunnel time! :laugh:

[Dirty Sanchez]

Originally posted by cartcanuck
I wonder what the chances are of this wing assembly getting through the first half of the year? Well if it doesn't I'd be very surprised as that would mean Williams would essentially have to aerodynamically redesign the entire car kinda like Bobby's "judge me by the" R3 :rofl:

[Methanolandbrats]

Looks like a stout enough piece to groom the gravel traps.

[Ziggy]

Can you say "Antares". This is very similar to the aero nose trick tried at the Speedway in 1972. You can look it up and post a link. I dont know how to do it!

It was in vogue at this time and was said to give a "ram effect" to the air going under the car. A couple of true Antares cars where built, while others just did the nose treatment. McCluskey and Dallenbach had the entire cars (Wally missed the show, Gilmore Broadcasting #10) and Roger once told me it was the crummiest car he ever drove at the Speedway. Michner-Patrick Racing also had the nose treatment only on both Rutherford and Savage's car (both being older Eagles)

What goes around comes around!

Ziggy

[RichK]

Antares at Indy '72 (http://swedesavage42.tripod.com/1972.html) (and a good site about Swede Savage)

[Cart4Live2003]

eh it may be fast.. it may help them.. or it may not who knows.. but all I have to say is..

UGLY

hehe

[Ziggy]

Seems Rutherford's car was a Brabham... no doubt heavily reworked. I would bet it had Eagle suspension.

Sorry to hijack the thread. That Williams is ugly, but then again, I think all F1 cars since 1995 have been ugly...

Ziggy

[RTKar]

Well that'll be one less diecast....

[Railbird]

http://www.f1racing.net/photo/upload2/LplOFYfgGcxnb.jpg


I agree that it's ugly, but count me in as one who thinks the diversity in design should make the F1 season more interesting.

Interesting that some of the new ideas were touched upon during the shade tree aerodymics era of the early seventies.

[nz_climber]

Maybe this new nose design is to mount a side winder missle inline with the drive (make it easier to aim!) watch out MS :rolleyes:

[Wheel-Nut]

Originally posted by nz_climber
Maybe this new nose design is to mount a side winder missle inline with the drive (make it easier to aim!) watch out MS :rolleyes:

They are racing in the Middle East this year!

[Peter Olivola]

There's nothing new in engine design that Harry Ricardo didn't explain a long, long time ago, either.


Originally posted by Railbird
Interesting that some of the new ideas were touched upon during the shade tree aerodymics era of the early seventies.

[Dr. Corkski]

http://f1.racing-live.com/photos/imgactu/04/williams-launch_050104_220x137.jpg
http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson/NoCourt02.jpg

[Brian_R]

http://f1.racing-live.com/photos/imgactu/04/williams-launch_050104_220x137.jpg
http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson/NoCourt02.jpg

:rofl: :laugh: :rofl:

[Brian_R]

The more that I look at it, the more I wonder if Chris Bangle designed this car and "Bangled" another one of BMW's cars / model lines up. :shakehead

[RaceChic]

Anyone have any staples that need removing? :eek:

[Robstar]

Don't discount the Beamers yet... ;)

Go JPM !

[flobee1kenobi]

Now on the starting grid-the BMW williams walrus :rofl:


still better looking that the IRL cars

[nz_climber]

Now on the starting grid-the BMW williams walrus :rofl:



:rofl:

I actually like the look of it, something different anyway, nice to see someone think outside the tradition F1 square, now they just need to get rid of that nasty airbox