F1 is all about performance, something that extends even to the way Grand Prix cars are painted. So when AT&T Williams wanted a new paint process for their FW31 racecars, they turned to leading paint supplier PPG for assistance. Working closely with the racing team PPG has developed a paint system that has led to a sizeable reduction in the volume of paint products used, thus delivering a major saving in the overall car weight.

AT&T Williams had direct access to the PPG team and training facilities at Stowmarket, UK, to run exhaustive trials on carbon fibre panels to compare alternative combinations of undercoats, primers and topcoats. This lead to the identification of a new paint process that ensured maximum coverage and minimum weight, with no loss of finished quality. This optimum combination was found to be a new colour-matched primer and a new direct gloss topcoat that importantly eliminated the need for the existing lacquer coat.

For more information visit the PPG Automotive Refinish website at www.ppgrefinish.com