Frank Williams named on Auto Express Brit List

Frank Williams named on Auto Express Brit List

WillaimsF1 chairman Sir Frank Williams has been named as one of the most influential Brits in the world of motoring.

In a bid to dispel the myth that Britain is not contributing on a large scale to the motoring sector, Auto Express has published the Brit List 2012.

The list was compiled by a list of top motoring commentators including veteran writer Ray Hutton, Auto Express editor-in-chief Steve Fowler and The Sun's motoring editor Ken Gibson among others.

After seeing Pastor Maldonado secure a first Grand Prix win in seven years for Williams, Sir Frank was placed at number 44 on the list.

Williams recently teamed up with RenaultSport to use the French firm's RS27 engine – a move that has thrust the team back to the forefront of the sport.

The list's panel said of the F1 team boss: "WilliamsF1 has returned to form this season after eight years in the doldrums. Sir Frank, now 70, still heads up the organisation that has won nine Formula One constructors' world championships."

And while Sir Frank is perhaps the highest-profile name on the list, a number of influential individuals are named.

Indeed, Andy Palmer, executive vice-president of product planning at Nissan, was placed at the top of the three after Auto Express acknowledged the amount of work that falls on his shoulders.

"The Auto Express Top Brit is an engineer with an astonishingly wide set of responsibilities," they said.

"Palmer, 48, joined Nissan in 1991 and moved to Japan in 2002. As leader of its electric vehicle programme, Palmer launched the Leaf. He is also in charge of the Infiniti brand."

John Fleming, Ford's vice-president of global manufacturing, placed third on the list after working his way up from the Halewood factory near Liverpool to heading up several different divisions within the Blue Oval.

Colin Dodge, Nissan's executive vice-president, also made the top five in fourth place, with the list recognising his achievement in being named managing director at Sunderland in 2003, 19 years after joining the Japanese manufacturer's UK operation in 1984.

Posted by Craig Salter