Williams interested in VW alliance

Mar.18 (GMM) According to the latest reports from Germany, Williams could be a candidate to team up with the country’s carmaker giant Volkswagen.

The Sport Bild weekly suggested that Sir Frank Williams, who has already sold a 20 per cent share in his once great Grove based team to Austrian Toto Wolff, could sell another stake to Wolfsburg based VW.

“We are stronger with a manufacturer than as a private team. No question,” 67-year-old Williams is quoted as saying.

“And of course we have an affinity with Germany. I remember well, quite early on, we went to the races with VW buses — we sometimes even slept in them!” he added.

“German cars are great,” Williams continued. “With Mercedes, Brawn won the title last year, and with McLaren in the previous year. And now they (Mercedes) are up there with their own team.”

Williams, now powered by engines supplied by the British independent company Cosworth, last won a race in 2004 with works BMW power.

The team has also won titles in the past amid works relationships with the carmakers Honda and Renault.

Said VW’s motor racing representative Hans-Joachim Stuck: “At the moment F1 is not a topic for us. If, however, the conditions change, we would have to think about it.”

Volkswagen is openly keen on the FIA’s proposal to instigate ‘world engine’ regulations from 2013.

Former F1 driver Stuck agreed that rules of that type would result in “huge savings”.