It was good to see that not only was motor racing recognised in Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday honours list but that she should award an O.B.E. ( Order of the British Empire) to Claire Williams who is deputy team principal and commercial director of Williams Grand Prix.
Daughter of our member, Sir Frank Williams, she has lived and breathed motor racing all of her life and in the past few years has proved that Frank has taught her well. Not only that but Claire has continued the tradition of Williams as being almost a family rather than simply an employer of racing drivers. At the same time she, appointed Susie Wolff as test driver for Williams which raised a few eyebrows, but her work in expanding Williams’ role not only in Grand Prix racing but outside thanks to the creation of Williams Advanced Engineering is something of which she also should be proud.