1/43 Model Review: 2009 Williams FW31 Toyota

Background

The 2009 season saw new rules and new looking F1 cars and offered a chance for smaller teams to get the jump on others. Williams was one of three teams to have exploited the double diffuser, although not as effectively as Brawn GP. The team would run in the midfield, with Rosberg showing some very good speed and consistent points finishing. At Singapore, he was in contention for a podium finish and possible victory, but ran wide exiting the pitlane and received a penalty. He often ran well in practice sessions, but it never materialised in qualifying. However Rosberg scored all of Williams' 34.5 points that year, before being snapped up by the Mercedes team.

Minichamps

Minichamps 400090016

This is another nice version of the Williams FW31 in race-trim. As well as the double-diffuser, the car also sported the first iteration of the 'cape' under the nose, a concept which reappeared on the Mercedes cars in mid-2017 to date.
Score: 7/10

My unfinished GP4 Car

I briefly joined the CTDP modding group, having been friends with them for a number of years, following their work. The aim at the time was to make a 2009 mod, and shortly after the car launch, I started work on the Williams FW31. Work on the main shape of the car didn't take me long to do, and I was pleased with the outcome. However my car was not developed past this, as it quickly became clear that the modders in CTDP were too busy and mod never materialised. I, too, became too busy to come back to this car, as the car had quite a few changes from the launch car when it started racing, and as other authors started releasing their work, this car remained unfinished on my hard drive.

devblog.ctdp.net

Where are they now?

Williams are perhaps the only true independent left in F1, perhaps with the exception of Racing Point. Whilst other teams are making use of their links to the top teams and some of their parts, Williams has remained staunchly independent throughout. Sadly their model is hurting their chances of remaining competitive, having only won one race since 2004, and in 2019 looking like another year propping up the field. 

Nico Rosberg won his first World Championship at Mercedes in 2016 before sensationally retiring days afterwards, claiming he had achieved his goal. He has since invested in Formula E and in other forward thinking technologies as well as taking up podcasting and vlogging. 

Kazuki Nakajima still races in WEC, where he won Le Mans in 2018 and leads the current 2018-2019 championship  alongside Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Buemi. As well as appearing in Japanese series Super GT, he has also found success in Formula Nippon/Super Formula, winning the championship twice.