Look back in history Sunday: The Brabham BT62

The scuttlebutt is that we may well see a Brabham BT62 competing in the Carter’s Tyres South Island Endurance Series later this year.  The South Island Endurance Drivers Racing Club have made changes over the off-season regarding car eligibility, announcing that now, all FIA GT3 homologated cars are automatically accepted to compete in their Carter’s Tyres South Island Endurance Series.

(Also see: A Brabham BT62 and a Renault RS01 – coming to a track near you?)

Let’s look briefly at the history behind the BT62.

It all started when Motor Racing Developments Ltd was founded in 1960 by the winning combination of Australian driver Jack Brabham and British designer Ron Tauranac.  Better known as Brabham, the team went on to win four Drivers’ and two Constructors’ Formula One World Championships. 

Included in this was the fact that Jack Brabham became the fist and, so far, only man to win the Formula One Championship driving one of his own cars.

Brabham was eventually sold and owned by future F1 magnate, Bernie Ecclestone throughout most of the 1970s and 80s.  Its sale to the Middlebridge Group in 1988 would see the team slowly demise until its collapse in 1992. 

An attempt by a Franz Hilmer to enter the Brabham name in the 2010 Formula One season never eventuated with the Brabham family later obtaining through legal means the exclusive right to the brand.

Now we have Brabham Automotive, led by David Brabham, Sir Jack Brabham’s youngest son.

David carved out his own career eventually driving for both Brabham and Simtek Formula One teams in 1990 and 1994.  He probably is better known for his sports car racing, including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2009 alongside two other F1 drivers, Marc Gene and Alexander Wurz in a Peugeot Sport Total LMP1 car.

In 2018 David Brabham launched Brabham Automotive, the result being that the BT62 was created.  It is a mid-engine 5.4 litre naturally aspirated V8 powered car with both track and road versions available.  The intention is to produce just 70 cars.  One of which may well wind its way to a South Island circuit near you!