Jonathan Williams (racing driver)


Jonathan Williams was a British racing driver.
Born in Cairo, Egypt, he participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, on 22 October 1967. He finished 8th, scoring no World Championship points.
His racing career began in the early 1960s, competing in saloons and various junior formulae, graduating to Formula Three in 1963 and in 1966 drove for the de Sanctis team. During this time he worked with the young Sir Frank Williams, Sheridan Thynne and Piers Courage.
In 1967, he was signed by Scuderia Ferrari, initially competing in sports car racing. That year, Ferrari lost several drivers, including team leader Lorenzo Bandini who died from injuries sustained at that year's Monaco Grand Prix and Williams' sports car co-driver, Günter Klass, killed during practice at the Mugello Circuit in July. Later that year, Williams was offered a drive in F1, but after only one Grand Prix he was dropped by Ferrari and a subsequent F1 project with Abarth did not come to fruition. However, he did compete in some Formula Two events in 1968 winning the Rhine Cup race in a car entered by Sir Frank Williams, before driving the works Serenissima. In 1969 he helped develop the De Tomaso F1 car for Frank Williams as well as continuing to compete in F2.
He continued also to be active in sports car racing. At the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, he co-drove the Porsche 908/02 which carried cameras for the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans.
Williams retired from racing in 1972 and became a pilot, an occupation he claimed to dislike and subsequently a writer and photographer.
Williams died on 31 August 2014, aged 71. He appeared in the documentary film , released nine months after his death and which closes with a clip of Williams driving in the 1971 film Le Mans.

Racing record

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011WDCPoints
1967Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFACFerrari 312/67Ferrari 242 3.0 V12RSAMONNEDBELFRAGBRGERCANITAUSAMEX
8		NC0

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789Points
1968Merlyn RacingMerlyn MK 12Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4HOCTHRJARPALTULZAN
8		NC0
1968Ron Harris Racing DivisionTecno TF68Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4PER
Ret		HOCVALNC0
Alejandro de TomasoDe Tomaso 103Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4THRHOCNÜRJARTUL
NC		PERVALNC0