NEW BRABHAM BT62 TO MAKE DEBUT IN BRITCAR
Revived brand targets World Endurance Championship, but will tackle dusk Brands race first
The first new Brabham car since 1992 will make its racing debut in Britcar Endurance Championship later this year.
Across November 9-10, the revived brand’s BT62 will be entered into the category’s twilight race at Brands Hatch in preparation for a planned 2022 campaign in the World Endurance Championship.
After a tie-up with the Goodyear tyre manufacturer, with which Jack Brabham became the first and so far only driver to win the F1 world title in a car of his own design, the 5.4-litre V8-powered BT62 will run as an invitational entry.
David Brabham – son of Jack, 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours winner and the director of Brabham Automotive – said: “It’s where the opportunity is, we’ve had customers say that they’d like to race [the BT62].
“At that time we weren’t sure where we could race it because it doesn’t really fit into any regulations for any series. Racing is in our DNA and we’re on the road to Le Mans and building the business. There’s so much to do but this opens up another avenue for us.”
Thanks to its 700bhp output and an ability to produce in excess of 1200kg of downforce, in February the car unofficially beat the Mount Panorama lap record during the weekend of the Bathurst 12 Hour.
That record had been set by an unrestricted Audi R8 LMS, of the same GT3 type that features at the head of the Britcar field. To bring the BT62 in line with the GT3 machinery, it will run in a less powerful trim.
“We’re not going to go there and be five seconds quicker than [our competitors],” Brabham added. “We’re going to be right with their pace so we don’t make people look stupid.”
The driver line-up is yet to be confirmed, although David’s son Sam has recently returned to racing via Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Ross Wylie, who drove the BT62 up the Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb earlier this year, is another possible contender. He is currently eighth in the Britcar standings, having shared a Ferrari 488 Challenge with David Mason this season.