CAN-AM BRM COMEBACK

Rare BRM sports-racer could join category celebration

One of only two BRM P154 Can-am cars built will run again this summer after a total restoration by the Hepworth family.

Chassis number 2 was raced by Pedro Rodriguez when new in 1970 and the model was BRM’S first sportscar (aside from the experimental Rover-brm turbine). It was acquired by the late David Hepworth in 1972 and has been with his family ever since.

The Castrol-liveried car is due to run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and could be ready for the Can-am 50th anniversary races at the Silverstone Classic in July if a suitable driver comes forward.

“It has been in bits for over 40 years and we don’t think it has raced since 1972,” said Andrew Hepworth. “Dad got it in 1971. We started getting the parts together for the rebuild in 2010 and then really pressed on this year to get it ready for Goodwood. We want to get it racing and it could be on the grid at Silverstone in July.”

Hepworth senior bought the complete project from BRM and the brothers are also working to get the later P167 Can-am car completed.

The Tony Southgate-designed P154 ran in North America in 1970 with Rodriguez, who was BRM’S lead Formula 1 driver at the time and took a best result of third at Riverside.

The other P154 has raced regularly as a historic with drivers including Michael Wheatley, Jost Kalisch and Yvan Mahe. It was damaged in an accident at Brands Hatch in 2010 and has yet to be rebuilt.