Damon Hill will return to one of Williams’ most famous cars at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, with the team restoring his FW18 for an appearance that neatly ties the past to the present. Williams are using the event to mark 30 years since Hill won the World Championship, making this one of the standout moments in the festival programme.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from July 9-12 in 2026, and the Hill run is part of a broader roundup of Formula 1 machinery and drivers set for the event. For Williams, though, this one carries a little extra weight. The FW18 is not just a historic car in the team’s story; it is the car that brings Hill back into focus as a world champion, and that gives the Goodwood appearance a clear emotional pull.
Why the FW18 matters
The restored FW18 is the centrepiece of Williams’ tribute to Hill’s 1996 success, and the decision to have him drive it adds a strong layer of authenticity. This is not a ceremonial display only. It is Hill in the cockpit of a championship-winning Williams car, returning a title-winning machine to public view at one of motorsport’s biggest summer gatherings.
That matters because Goodwood has become a place where racing history is not just displayed but properly celebrated. Williams are clearly leaning into that idea, using the event to connect one of their great drivers with one of their great cars. It is a simple concept, but in motorsport that often works best: a famous name, a famous chassis, and a moment that reminds everyone what made both so significant.
A fitting anniversary moment for Williams
Marking 30 years since Hill won the World Championship gives the appearance an obvious sense of timing. It is a reminder of how rare those moments are, and how much they still mean to a team like Williams. For supporters, the sight of Hill in the FW18 will be the sort of image that links generations rather than just one festival weekend.
The wider Goodwood line-up will bring plenty of variety, with multiple Formula 1-era cars and drivers on show, but Hill’s run in the restored FW18 stands out because it has a direct story behind it. Williams have chosen a car that speaks for itself, and a driver who can still give that history real meaning.
When the festival begins on July 9, the focus will inevitably shift to the usual spectacle of speed, sound and nostalgia. But for Williams, the key image may come from Hill and the FW18, a combination that turns a heritage appearance into something more lasting.
