Formula 1 fans will tell you that on-track right now the famous old Williams team isn’t doing very well. There is however one part of the Williams business going from strength to strength. Williams Advanced Engineering seeks to apply F1-style technologies and practices to wider commercial applications, and has made considerable strides in a range of areas, from developing lightweight composite 3D structures for battlefield shelter protection for troops, through to its Aerofoil thin aluminum ‘wing’ attached to the shelf-edges of open-fronted supermarket chiller cabinets retaining more cool air inside the cabinet, improving energy efficiency. Williams Advanced Engineering batteries also powered the first four seasons of Formula E racing, performing at 99.5% on-track reliability, while last year the company was got the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
And Williams Advanced Engineering has now just been confirmed by TCR owner, WSC Group, as the supplier of batteries and vehicle control modules (VCMs) to ETCR, the first electric multi-brand touring car racing series. The series, in which production cars will be powered by a common 100% electric powertrain, is kicking off next year and aims to position itself as the leading motorsport platform for R&D of electric vehicle technologies to be applied to road cars. It also is seeking to establish itself in several continents via an engaging format and fan connectivity as well as–unlike Formula E–a mix of street and permanent tracks used. “The team at Williams Advanced Engineering is delighted to be able to bring our award-winning expertise in electrification to ETCR,” said Williams Advanced Engineering’s business development director Iain Wight. “With the experience, skills and know-how accumulated within Williams from electrifying motorsport and road-going cars, we’re excited to work with the team at WSC Group to continue the progress of electric vehicles and racing to inspire the future of sustainable mobility.”
“Williams is synonymous with success in motorsport,” added WSC president Marcello Lotti. “The company’s achievements speak for themselves. We are proud of this agreement that associates the Williams name with a new and ambitious brand like ETCR. We are delighted to work together with a partner that knows all about motorsport and whose expertise will surely contribute to make ETCR successful. WSC Group is the owner of the TCR brand, arguably the most successful motorsport category in recent years that has completely reshaped Touring Car competition globally. It was a logical step for the company to use its vast know-how in the application of new technologies.”
The news follows hot on the heels of it being confirmed that the forthcoming Extreme E electric off-road SUV racing championship–which aims to launch in 2021 and is co-founded by Formula E boss Alejandro Agag–will also use batteries provided by Williams Advanced Engineering for its first two seasons.
Images courtesy of Williams Advanced Engineering
