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Brabham Automotive and the BT62 track car dead for now

Brabham Automotive, maker of the BT62 track car, was formed through a partnership between two Australian enterprises. Private equity firm Fusion Capital, with decades of involvement in Australia’s transportation industry, worked out a deal with Brabham Group to license the Brabham name. As the “majority shareholder, sole funder, and operator of the Automotive company that bears the famous Brabham name,” Fusion Capital bankrolled the operation, with David Brabham — youngest son of three-time Formula 1 champion Sir Jack Brabham and a Le Mans winner himself — the face and soul of the brand. Sportscar 365 reports the collaboration is officially over due to differences of opinion about the “strategic direction” of Brabham Automotive.

David Brabham said in written statement, “The decision to end the relationship was made after careful consideration and what was in the best interests of all parties and the brand.” Mat Fitch, chairman of Fusion Capital, said in his own written statement that the investment firm is “committed to projects that push the limits and defy convention in the motorsport and automotive sectors.”

The breakup seems to have been a slow burn. In July last year, Australian outlet Car Expert spoke to David about what he called “a reboot” for the company, wanting to build more units of the $1.8M AUD ($1.2M U.S.) BT62 and develop a more affordable variant. At the time, Brabham said in response to detailed questions, “Some of the answers are points of discussion at the moment, so we prefer to wait till these have been sorted.”   

Looks like that’s happened. Neither man stated the source of the disagreement, but other Fitch comments as well as Fusion Capital investments suggest a major difference was over electrification. Fitch’s statement also included the line, “Powertrains are evolving, and the opportunity to challenge the mainstream OEMs has never been greater.” The company owns Australia’s Bustech, a maker of municipal buses for Australian cities that is heavily engaged in the transition to electric powertrains and clean fuels. As an offshoot, it’s reportedly looking at developing robotaxis.

Brabham Automotive had big plans for the BT62, planning to sell 70 examples of the track version, create a roadgoing variant that would enable entry into racing series’ like the World Endurance Championship, contest Le Mans, and develop a tech-heavy, one-on-one driver coaching operation. We don’t know how many ended up in private hands. It sounds like the BT62’s story isn’t necessarily over, but whatever the BT62 potentially morphs into won’t bear the Brabham name and might not be powered by a naturally aspirated, 700-horsepower, 5.4-liter Ford V8. Yet another Fitch line was, “My family and I have invested in automotive and manufacturing for over 40 years and … what we have created provides the perfect platform for the future.”  

Given more time and that road-going version, the BT62 might have been able to make more of a name for itself. The track version set a lap record at Australia’s Mount Panorama circuit, and scored a race win plus a few podiums in the GT2 European Series.

We undoubtedly haven’t heard the last of the Brabham name, either. The scion wrote, “While it is regrettable that our relationship with Fusion Capital has come to an end, the collaboration helped further evolve Brabham to a new and exciting future. … With the brand license for Automotive ended, it opens the doors for future business ventures in the Motorsport, Automotive and Heritage sectors. I would like to personally thank everyone who contributed and supported to this project over the years.”

Brabham BT62R: Road Version of Australian Supercar Revealed

Brabham automotive have officially unveiled the road version of the Brabham BT62, the Brabham BT62R. The Australian supercar has been developed by the son of Sir Jack Brabham, triple Formula 1 world champion and founder of the legendary Brabham racing team.

Brabham had promised a road-legal version of his track-only supercar. That promise is now delivered with the BT62R.

Highlights of the Brabham BT62R

– Variable ride heights for driving on track and on public roads.
– New exhaust system, air conditioning and heated windscreen
– New front splitter and rear diffuser to accommodate road use and maintain track aero.
– New road seat design.
– Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport road tyres.
– 700hp, 5.4 litre V8

Engine

Brabham BT62R Rear Wing

The Brabham BT62R is powered by the same 5.4 litre V8 engine, producing 700 hp and 667 Nm of torque. The difference is the mapping, which is modified for the road.

To make the BT62R more palatable for the road, Brabham has developed a new exhaust system. Drive is through a 6-speed sequential transmission with revised gear ratios.

The Brabham BT62R gets the same FIA compliant chassis as its track-oriented brother. A revised suspension system has been tuned for road use.

Exterior

Brabham BT62R Front

The body features a revised front splitter, new top-mounted air intake, new rear diffuser and a re-designed and road compliant single-plane rear wing.

Interior

Brabham BT62R Side

The interior is finished in leather and/or Alcantara with contrast stitching. The light-weight seats are a redesigned carbonfibre construction. Heat and sound insulation are improved with an alcantara roof and additional storage compartments.

BT62R owners will get a new digital control panel which has the option to revert to the track oriented display when on circuit.

Brabham Will Add a Road-Going Supercar to Its Lineup

Increasing Volume and Expanding Its Lineup

The Brabham BT62 hypercar is a wild machine capable of some insane track times. The company realizes its track monster isn’t for everyone, so it wants to introduce a more affordable supercar alternative. Dan Marks, Brabham’s commercial director had a little sit-down chat with Motoring Research and told the publication that the company will add a road-going model to its lineup and increase its volume of sales. 

According to the publication Marks wouldn’t give away much information about the car. However, he did say it would be “a road car that’s well-suited to the track.” That’s exciting. When it comes to the sales volume of this car, he said Brabham was looking to sell somewhere between 100 to 200 cars each year. “We’re not going down the McLaren route and building 6,000 cars each year – we don’t want to lose our focus.”

When will the car come? Likely in 2022. So, that means you have a few years to save up your pennies for what is bound to be an expensive automobile. Currently, the company’s focus is still on the BT62 hypercar and seeing it compete well in the World Endurance Championship races. 

If we had to guess, we’d say the upcoming Brabham supercar would compete with the likes of the McLaren 720S and Ferrari F8 Tributo. It will be interesting to see where this car lands in terms of performance and price.

Brabham announces return to Le Mans, in its BT62 supercar

Shortly after announcing the BT62 supercar’s new road-legal package, which also adds some driver comforts, Brabham Automotive has announced its racing intentions. The Australian manufacturer will be taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship in 2021-2022, in the GTE class. The GTE car will be based on the BT62 chassis. Stock, the BT62 comes with a 710-horsepower 5.4-liter V8.

There’s an interesting sideline to the news: As the BT62 debuted as a track-day car first and a road car second, early Brabham customers have become part of the BT62’s track testing team. It’s often said that with some cars, customers become sort of beta testers during early production — with Brabham’s supercars, the aspect seems rather more voluntary. In any case, the endurance racing program is “directly linked” to Brabham’s BT62 Driver Development Program, which also gives owners Pro-Am racing opportunities.

Sir Jack Brabham won the French Grand Prix at Le Mans in 1967, so the name has definite history there. David Brabham, the company’s managing director and lead test driver, also won at Le Mans in 2009, with a Peugeot 908, and his brother Geoff took the honors there in 1993 driving a Peugeot 905.

David Brabham says: “Returning the Brabham name to Le Mans is something I have been working on for years, so it’s fantastic to make this announcement today. Brabham Automotive only launched its first car, the BT62, in May 2018, so we have a long road to travel to earn the right to return to compete at Le Mans. That work starts now with a long-term racing commitment. We look forward to developing the BT62 and future products while building a world-class competitive race team around the leading engineering and manufacturing talent we have in the business.” Brabham also stated that the company intends to compete in a lower-level racing series in the future.

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Brabham to make BT62 supercar road-legal

When Brabham Automotive showed its BT62 supercar last spring, it was announced to be track-day only — in other words, not designed to be road legal. The BT62 was first aimed at customers with a trailer and the means to enjoy the supercar’s potential outside of regular traffic. However, the company has now confirmed a conversion package to make the BT62 fit for the road.

As David Brabham stated: “We designed the BT62 to be an unrestricted, thoroughbred track car, and our extensive test program has revealed it to be all of those things. This isn’t a car designed for the road. With that said, it’s clear some customers are keen to have a road compliant option with their BT62, particularly to drive to and from the track. My father Jack was always customer focused, and we will continue with that ethos.”

The UK price for the “Road Compliance Conversion” option means a £150,000, or $190,000, increase in the BT62’s base price, which is $1.4 million. All European-market BT62 cars ordered with the package will be converted in the UK by Brabham Automotive, and the work includes an Individual vehicle approval test. But it’s not just paperwork and testing that’s worth £150K, as the road-legal BT62 cars will also receive a lift kit of sorts to raise the front and rear, altered steering, air conditioning, door locks, immobilizers and additional interior upholstery. All to make the track-day special a little more livable in the real world, and to make driving to the track perfectly legal.

While £150K would buy a perfectly agreeable “real world” car to supplement a spartan, trailered BT62, we don’t think that’s likely to be a concern for Brabham’s clientele. The company says the modifications are meant to pose a minimal compromise to the car’s abilities, and while the curb weight is slightly increased, engine output will remain the same at 700 horsepower.

Brabham expects to have the first road-legal BT62 readied and delivered by summer. Currently, the conversion work is offered with European customers in mind, but the company is said to be working with authorities elsewhere as well.

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A legendary name returns to the track: the Brabham BT62

Does 730ps-per-tonne sound good to you? Keep reading…

There is a history of big names from Formula One using their motorsport heritage to sell cars – some more successful than others.

The moniker of ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ has been employed by some of the greatest names throughout motorsport. Ferrari have been at it since the forties, Porsche, Ford and Audi are among those to have employed the tactic in endurance racing, and McLaren went so far as to name their hypercar the F1 in the nineties, as if the name (and blistering performance) wasn’t enough to turn heads.

Now, another brand has emerged that is looking to capitalise on its motorsport heritage with the launch of a customer vehicle, though the gap from win-to-sell is considerably longer than the accepted norm.

Introducing the Brabham BT62

Packing 700bhp and 492 ft-lbs of torque courtesy of a 5.4-ltre V8 engine, with a dry weight of less than 1000kg all wrapped up in a CARBON FIBRE body that looks like a Bugatti Chiron and a McLaren Senna had a baby, the BT62 is designed to be a mid-engine track weapon.

Gallery: Pictures from the Brabham BT62 launch

As you can see from the pictures, that power-to-weight ratio needs a lot of downforce to keep it on the straight and narrow. Thankfully, Brabham has thought of this and claims the BT62 is capable of delivering over 1200kg of downforce thanks to an aerodynamic package, which, coupled with Michelin slicks to be developed in conjunction with the French rubber specialists should help keep it glued to the track.

Brabham says the car has been designed to ‘demand more from its driver,’ and buyers will be able to join the Brabham driver development programme, which should hopefully mean BT62 drivers keep their very expensive toy on the asphalt.

Prices start from £1 million plus local taxes, but that’s before options have been considered, and production will be limited to just 70 cars – meaning that price tag should at least grant owners some exclusivity.

That production run is a nod to the 70-year heritage of the Brabham name in motorsport; the first 35 examples produced will pay further tribute to the 35 Brabham F1 team victories, earned between 1962 and 1992.

Multiple Le Mans winner David Brabham, son of founder of Brabham racing team Jack Brabham, unveiled the car at Australia House in London, alongside the BT19 racer that took Jack to victory in the 1966 French Grand Prix, with the BT62 being liveried to match its historic counterpart.

What do you think of the Brabham BT62? Would you buy one? If not – what would you have instead?

Brabham BT62 supercar and its naturally aspirated V8 revealed

Brabham, a name long associated with racing, has just revealed its new supercar, the BT62. And from the looks of it, it’s pretty typical modern supercar design. There are all manner of cavities from scoops to vents, channels to grilles. It’s a very swoopy, curvy design that almost looks like a Lamborghini from a world where the company focused on curves instead of angles. Inside looks very purposeful but well crafted. Everything is in carbon fiber, and the seats are incredibly close together. Ahead of the racing-style steering wheel, complete with all sorts of knobs and buttons, is a screen for instruments, and in the center stack is a screen for other funtions.

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Under the carbon fiber skin is a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 making 700 horsepower and 492 pound-feet of torque. That engine sounds pretty remarkable, too, based on the sound sample the company released earlier. It’s paired to a six-speed sequential transmission, and it powers the rear wheels exclusively. An enormous rear wing is capable of providing 2,646 pounds of downforce, which is over 500 pounds more than the car’s curb weight of 2,143 pounds. Stopping the featherweight supercar are disc brakes with six-piston calipers at all four corners.

Brabham will only build 70 of these cars, and they’ll sell for about $1.4 million.

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Brabham BT62 will have 700 horsepower, debuts in two weeks

After nearly three decades away from motorsports, Brabham is back from the dead. David Brabham, son of company founder and namesake Jack Brabham, announced in February that he has plans to return to Formula 1. In addition to a new F1 car, the company will be building a new roadcar. Two weeks ahead of its debut, we get some of the big specs and a single teaser image of the Brabham BT62.

The new car will be powered by a 700 horsepower, naturally-aspirated 5.4-liter V8. The car will have a dry weight of just 2,142 pounds and put down 2,646 pounds of downforce thanks in part to a massive rear wing. Weight savings comes in the form of carbon, including six-piston brakes both front and rear. Other details remain a mystery for now.

The Brabham BT62 will be limited to just 70 units. Even with a base price of $1.4 million, we don’t expect it to take too long to sell out. We just hope that this helps fund future development of both road and race cars, similar to McLaren’s current lineup.

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Brabham reveals name and exhaust note of new sports car

Last month, racing driver David Brabham, son of successful racer Jack Brabham, announced that he had some big plans for his family name, including returning it to an F1 team and starting a road car company. The latter is named Brabham Automotive, and its first car finally has a name: BT62. It’s not particularly exciting, but that seems to be the case with British racing firms that build road cars, just look at McLaren.

Perhaps more exciting than the name is the way the car sounds. The company released a sound clip that can be heard in the embedded video above. It’s mostly of the car at idle, with a couple of light blips, but it sounds serious. We can make out some lope in the exhaust note, and it sounds as though it’s barely muffled, if at all. We can’t wait to hear it at full throttle.

We shouldn’t have long to wait, either. The company’s homepage has a countdown to the car’s reveal that, as of the publishing of this post, has just 51 days left. That puts the reveal at the start of May.

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