BMW WILLIAMS FW23 Showcar

This official F1 show car was built by the Williams F1 team for their sponsors BMW and HP/Compaq and was used for promotional activities. This particular model is one of the few remaining examples, with the driver’s name, JP Montoya, proudly displayed on the car.

This stunning vehicle would make an excellent addition to any collection or serve as a remarkable display piece for a BMW dealership!

The car features the 2004 livery and is incredibly well built, retaining many original parts, including:

• The floor
• OZ wheels
• Michelin tires (travel specification)
• Front brake discs
• Brake calipers
• Seat
• Seatbelts
• Engine cover
• Rear and front wings
• Wing endplates
• Wishbones

The 2001 season marked Williams’ second year with engine partners BMW. The potential shown in 2000 translated into raw speed and strong results throughout the year, including the team’s first win since 1997 at Imola. The powerful BMW engine, combined with a well-designed chassis, Michelin tires that performed well in hot conditions, and the efforts of two quick drivers, resulted in four victories and the team’s re-emergence at the top of the sport, alongside Ferrari and McLaren. The car was especially strong on faster circuits like Hockenheim and Monza, where the BMW engine gave Williams a distinct advantage over their rivals.

However, Williams was unable to mount a title challenge for several reasons. Firstly, the BMW engines were more unreliable than those of their competitors, leading to a finishing rate of less than 50%. Secondly, the chassis was not as competitive on high-downforce tracks such as Monaco and the Hungaroring. Thirdly, both drivers made several mistakes, particularly Montoya, as he was still getting accustomed to F1.

Despite these challenges, the team still finished a clear third in the Constructors’ Championship with 80 points.BMW Williams entered the 2001 season with renewed major sponsorships from Allianz, Nortel Networks, Compaq, Reuters, Veltins, Petrobras, and Castrol. They also gained new sponsors, such as WorldCom, and discontinued sponsorship with 11880.com. The livery was similar to the 2000 design, with subtle changes. Ahead of the 2001 San Marino Grand Prix, Williams humorously painted their rear wing with the text “Keep Your Distance!” after several rivals collided with Schumacher and Montoya multiple times in the first three races.