APRIL 2019 | CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK 105matched properties with the best estate agents, before joining Singer,
where he now heads up the DLS programme.
‘I mean, BBS created a forged magnesium centre-lock wheel just for us.
Brembo: we called them up expecting to buy an off-the-shelf kit and they
made us an entire carbon brake system. And then there’s the traction-con-
trol system f rom Bosch. We went into t his t hin k ing no one w i l l underst a nd
what we’re trying to do but what surprised us is how many nutty car guys
we found; and they’ve all bent over backwards to help.’
While Harris and Tuthill take turns at flinging the car down a twisty
road then reporting back to the rest of the crew, I ask Williams project
manager Jonathan Dean about the contrast between this programme and
Williams’ more usual projects.
‘We’re working with enthusiasts rather than an OEM, and that has its
challenges,’ he explains. ‘When you’re working with an OEM they put a lot
of their own processes in place. We have more freedom here: that’s been
refreshing. We’ve had more opportunity than normal to steer the process
but sometimes you’re not sure you’re talking the same language, so it has
taken longer.’
When Harris arrives back at our layby he claims the rear end is doing
too much steering and suggests stiffening the dampers. The Williams
technicians spring into action, hoisting the car into the air with a portable
battery-operated lift to make the changes before sending it out again. And
10 minutes later they’ll do it all again. By the time we get a visit from the
police, curious to see where the almighty shriek is coming from, the team
feel like they’re getting somewhere.
From road to track, and from cold to perishing. After beers, pasta and a
night’s rest we relocate to the Castelloli circuit, where the temperature of
the tarmac is currently better suited to winter tyres than the fat semi-slick
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber the development cars are wearing.
We’re joined by an early blue mule that looks like it’s escaped from the
local crusher. But it’s the scuttle of the much prettier orange car on which
Maz precariously yet casually balances his cardboard cup of steaming
coffee. Not his preferred Peet’s Coffee, admittedly, but the Bay Area roaster
hasn’t yet landed in rural Spain.
This is our first chance to really pore over the exterior details – and,
honestly, it’s hard to know where to start. Some of the trick bits aren’t
immediately obvious: the modern flush-fit windscreen and door windows,
the bespoke door handles. Some aren’t even visible, like the double-wish-
bone front end that replaces the standard car’s flawed struts, or Williams’
re-engineered aluminium trailing arms.
‘We could have gone for a multi-link rear,’ admits Maz, ‘but we like the
way the older cars feel and we wanted to preserve it, while improving it.’
Like Singer’s classic restorations, the DLS features carbon bodywork,
including the doors. The addition of a rollcage of 40mm tubing concealed
within the shell helps increase chassis stiffness by 80 per cent compared
with a stock 964, and Williams aero expertise means it’s vastly more efficient.
‘You know those old pictures of the ’73 2.7 RS in the wind tunnel with
all those little bits of tape flapping about the ducktail?’ asks Maz before
waving his hand in a ‘baloney’ gesture. ‘Turns out that spoiler does almost
nothing. The air goes right over the top. It’s why cars like the GT3 RS have
such huge wings – they need to get ’em up high into the airflow.’ ⊲‘We could have gone for a
multi-link rear,’ says Maz.
‘But we wanted to preserve
the way the older cars feel’
FALLING IN LOVE
WITH PORSCHES
‘During my time at the
University of Michigan in
the early ’90s, I got a job
at a local luxury car dealer.
That’s where I drove my
first 964. My first car was
in fact a Nissan 240SX.’MAKING IT BIG IN
SOFTWARE
‘I founded Agent Ace,
the estate agent software
company, and in the early
2000s I co-founded Pow-
erOne Energy, an alterna-
tive energy supplier.’JOINING SINGER
‘I met Rob when he was
working on the first car
back in 2009. I’d help with
some of the business stuff.
We did a lot of drinking
and hanging out. I wasn’t
formally involved with the
business but I was there,
helping, participating and
suggesting ideas.’THE DLS PROJECT
‘Then we had the idea to
do this car. We had lots of
orders for the classic car
but some of our clients
were pushing for more;
more power, less weight.
We realised that any kind
of development project
couldn’t be done there. I
thought that we needed a
new team, new financing,
new management, and
to start another business.
And suddenly I was full
time on Singer, which was
the greatest thing ever.’MAZ FAWAZ
HOW I GOT HERE
Coffee with CAR