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Brabham is a racing manufacturer founded in the UK in 1960 by three-time F1 World Champion Sir Jack Brabham and his fellow countryman Ron Tauranac. Sir Jack is the only driver to have won the F1 title driving a car he built himself. In 2018, his son David Brabham founded Brabham Automotive in Australia, attempting to continue the track glory.
Golden Age of F1: The Brabham Racing Organisation competed from 1962 to 1992, accumulating two Drivers' Championships, four Constructors' Championships, and 35 Grand Prix wins. In 1966, Sir Jack won the title driving the self-developed BT19. In 1978, the BT46 "Fan Car" was a pioneer. Nelson Piquet won two more titles in 1981 and 1983. The team also pioneered mid-race refueling and carbon fiber brake systems.
Civilian Restart and Fall: In 2018, David Brabham established Brabham Automotive. The track supercar BT62 was launched in 2018, and the road version BT62R was launched in 2020. However, by 2024, the brand was dissolved due to strategic disagreements between investor Fusion Capital and the founding shareholders. It was formally deregistered in July 2024, and the BT62 ceased production forever.
Brabham Automotive only ever produced a single model, the BT62 and its derivatives, all named to honor the brand's heritage ("BT" originates from the first F1 car in 1961).
BT62 Competition (delivered in 2020): A track competition version compliant with FIA safety regulations, with no interior and no air conditioning, built specifically for endurance racing.
BT62R (released in 2020): A legal street version, adding air conditioning, adaptive suspension, a mixed leather and Alcantara interior, and a sound-dampened exhaust.
Both cars were limited to 70 units to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Sir Jack's first F1 race. The first 35 units featured a green and gold livery paying homage to the BT19 championship car.
The BT62 price started at over 1 million pounds (approximately 914,000 USD), with an additional 150,000 pounds for the street version. In May 2020, the first BT62 Competition was delivered to the UK Horsepower Racing team, with subsequent deliveries originally planned for customers in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Production and delivery were severely delayed due to the pandemic, and the final number of completed vehicles remains unknown. When the brand dissolved in 2024, many orders remained undelivered.
The BT62 was built around extreme lightweighting and aerodynamics.
Lightweight Body: The dry weight was only 972 kg, over 200 kg lighter than the Audi R8 GT3 race car. The body used extensive carbon fiber and Kevlar composite materials, while the chassis used an FIA-certified multi-tube steel frame.
Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine: A mid-mounted 5.4-liter V8 engine, derived from the Ford Modular V8 and deeply customized by Brabham, producing 700 horsepower and 667 Nm of torque, with a redline of up to 8,000 rpm, paired with a 6-speed sequential racing gearbox.
Extreme Aerodynamics: The aggressive aero kit generated over 1,200 kg of downforce at high speeds, exceeding the vehicle's curb weight. Theoretically, the downforce was enough to allow the vehicle to drive upside down on a ceiling.
Chassis and Braking: Double-wishbone suspension front and rear, equipped with four-way adjustable Öhlins dampers and carbon fiber six-piston Brembo ceramic brake systems, providing unparalleled track handling.
The brand adopted a UK-Australia dual headquarters model, with its legal headquarters in Hampshire, UK, and core production and R&D at its Adelaide base in South Australia. Sales targeted global top racing teams and supercar collectors. Early customers came not only from the UK and Australia but also from Europe, the Middle East, and other regions. Its F1 team era had already established a global racing empire.
Brabham Automotive has exited the stage as a car manufacturer. However, David Brabham has stated that the brand has only ended its licensing for the automotive sector, leaving the door open for motorsports and heritage projects. It is entirely possible that Brabham will return to the racing world in some other form in the future — after all, the name Brabham has always belonged on the track.
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