NEW V16 CELEBRATES BRM
Britain’s original Formula 1 team, British Racing Motors (BRM), is celebrating its 70th anniversary with the construction of three ‘new’ 16- cylinder race cars – the iconic and awe-inspiring Type 15 Mk1 BRM V16 which is considered by many fans to be the finest sounding racing car in the history of the sport. The first car, which is expected to be delivered next year, will go to the Owen family and will fulfil a long-held ambition of one of the family’s oldest surviving members to see and hear this iconic British racing car in action once again. John Owen, now 81, was just ten years old when he first heard the unique wail of the V16 engine, which developed 600 horsepower thanks to its ability to spin at an incredible 12,000rpm, far beyond the range of many road and race cars 60 years later. John’s father was BRM’s team principal, Sir Alfred Owen, a leading industrialist and founding member of the consortium charged with building a world- class race car and bringing championship glory to the nation – a vision that was ultimately fulfilled in 1962.
In a unique partnership, historic automotive restoration specialists Hall and Hall will use up to 20,000 original drawings to re-manufacture new, forensically authentic examples of the P15 V16 MK1 machine, piece by historic piece. The project gathered momentum in recent years when three of Sir Alfred Owen’s grandsons, Simon, Paul and Nick, first began discussing how BRM should be revived and preserved for future generations. The discovery of several chassis numbers which had been allocated by the BRM team in 1950 but never built due to a change in Formula 1 technical regulations, presented a unique opportunity.
Racing historians Doug Nye said: 'These archives tell the story of staggering British innovation and engineering skill. It is hard to imagine just how complex a 16- cylinder engine is, but what is clear is that the same care, attention and design detail went into every element of every BRM. It was an undeniably British effort, the like of which we may never see again. Perhaps only now are we beginning to appreciate that this archive has a relevance that goes well beyond the drawings and the cars. This is a story about how BRM and a few men in sheds influenced Formula 1 and the wider motor industry.'
The newly sanctioned cars are already under construction at Hall and Hall in Bourne, Lincolnshire, just a stone’s throw from where the originals were first engineered. On-track demonstrations are scheduled to celebrate the 70th anniversary of BRM in 2021. The two sanctioned chassis will be available on application.