Frank Williams (Formula One)

Sir Francis Owen Garbett Williams CBE (born 16 April 1942) is founder and team principal of the Williams Formula One racing team.

Early life

Born in South Shields, County Durham (now Tyne and Wear), England, son of a serving RAF officer and a special education teacher (and later headmistress), Williams was in part brought up by his maternal aunt and uncle in Jarrow when his parents' marriage broke down. He subsequently spent much of his later childhood at a private, fee-paying boarding school, St Joseph's College, Dumfries, in Scotland. In the late 1950s a friend gave Williams a ride in his Jaguar XK150 and young Frank was immediately hooked on fast cars.

Professional career

After a brief career as a driver and mechanic, funded by his work as a travelling grocery salesman, Williams founded Frank Williams Racing Cars in 1966. He ran drivers including Piers Courage and Tony Trimmer for several years in Formula Two and Formula Three. Williams purchased a Brabham Formula One chassis, which Courage drove throughout the 1969 Formula One season, twice finishing in second place.