The now late (and great) Sir Frank Williams has passed away at the age of 79-years. Tributes flow and we pause and remember the person who has contributed so much to not just Formula One, but to motorsport in general. His life and work in motorsport is well known and documented as it has touched and influenced many lives in many different ways.
Best known for his establishment of the current Williams F1 Team, it all started in 1966 with Frank Williams Racing Cars running drivers in F2 and F3 before he embarked into F1 in 1969 with his driver Piers Courage.
Frank Williams and Courage (Frank Williams Racing) came to NZ and competed in the 1969 Tasman Series, with Courage finishing third overall behind winner Chris Amon (Dino 246 Tasmania) and Jochen Rindt (Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFW).
Courage drove a Brabham BT24 Ford Cosworth DFW winning the Teretonga International race as well as finishing on the podium in the NZ Grand Prix at Pukekohe, and the Levin International. Fourth place in the Lady Wigram Trophy race and three retirements in the Australian rounds (Aust GP – Lakeside, Warwick Farm International and the Sandown 100) gave him 22-points for the Series, 22 behind Amon.
Courage was to finish eighth overall in the 1969 World F1 Championship with two second placings (Monaco and Watkins Glen) for Frank Wiliams’ debut season.
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