BRABHAM F2 WINNER TO COMPETE AGAIN

Ex-dave Morgan car to make return Photos: Jakob Ebrey, Paul Lawrence and Gary Hawkins

The Brabham that scored one of the biggest shocks in Formula 2 history will return to competition in Europe this season.

Brabham BT35 chassis 8 was the car in which Dave Morgan won the opening round of the 1972 European Formula 2 Championship at Mallory Park. It has spent most of its life in Australia but is now in the hands of John Hughes, who plans to contest some major European hillclimbs.

In March 1972, the Mallory races ran in low ambient temperatures and Morgan won part one and did enough in part two to beat Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutemann and Jody Scheckter in what was effectively a Formula Atlantic.

Simon Hadfield has restored the car for Hughes, the former FIA Historic Commission chairman. Hadfield was at Mallory that day as a young F3 mechanic.

“It is still stunningly original and still with an 1850cc BDA engine,” said Hadfield. “They’d ordered a BT38 but the factory was behind so they turned up with the BT35, still on tall profile Formula Atlantic tyres and the day came their way.”

The Brabham went to Australia at the end of 1972 and was raced a few times before spending more than 20 years in storage while owned by Bryan Miller.

“John was a mate of Dave’s and was involved in his racing,” said Hadfield. “He wanted the car in absolute period specification and it is as near as we can make it, the way Dave Morgan finished that race. It’s a lovely, special car.”