The following news item is published in full from Brabham Automotive. Enjoy:
Celebrating one of the most important countries in its racing and family history, Brabham Automotive is teaming up with Michelin to debut the sensational Brabham BT62 in the United States, with a fitting tribute to American hero and ex-Brabham Formula 1 winner, Dan Gurney, at this year’s Monterey Car Week.
Fresh from its public dynamic launch at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Brabham BT62 is set to win the hearts and minds of the American public at a series of prestigious events on the Monterey Peninsula. Working in conjunction with technical partner Michelin, the car will be centre stage on the tyre manufacturer’s stand at Laguna Seca on Friday 24 August and Sunday 26 August. Over the week the car will also appear at the McCall’s Motorworks Revival on Wednesday 22 August, and at the Exotics on Cannery Row on Saturday 25 August.
In an exclusive moment for Monterey Car Week, the BT62 will be proudly sporting a new tribute livery, in honour of Dan Gurney, the first ever driver to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix in a Brabham racing car. Finished in Brabham’s distinctive Green and Gold colours, it’s a homage to the Brabham BT7 that Gurney steered to victory at the French Grand Prix of 1964. A highly successful racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner in his own right, Gurney was the racer Sir Jack Brabham chose as his first team mate for his fledgling Brabham racing team back in 1963.
Heralding the start of an exciting new chapter for the iconic marque, the BT62 has been designed from the ground up to feature a host of unique engineering details and draws on the project team’s vast experience to create a car without equal. Crafted from lightweight carbon fibre, the BT62’s exterior surface and aggressive aerodynamic package combine to strike the optimal balance between function and form. Pure-bred for the track, the car is powered by a Brabham naturally-aspirated 5.4-litre capacity V8 engine, boasting a power-to-weight ratio of 730ps per tonne and a dry weight of just 972kg.
The launch of the Brabham BT62 in the United States coincides with the marque’s 70th anniversary – a period which has brought Brabham, the team and the family, great success around the world, and no more so than in North America. The scene of countless Brabham victories and firsts over many years, North America holds a special place in the family’s heart.
Proudly presenting the Brabham BT62, a car truly worthy of carrying the iconic Brabham name, triple 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, two-time American Le Mans Series winner and Brabham Automotive founder David Brabham, will be at Monterey for the week of celebration and the next chapter in the evolving Brabham story.
Speaking ahead of the BT62’s Monterey Car Week debut, David Brabham said, “I’ve enjoyed great success in the United States over the course of my racing career, as did my father, Sir Jack, and brother Geoff Brabham, who is a member of the Motorsport Hall of Fame of America. As a country, the US holds great significance for the family, and continued importance for the Brabham racing dynasty, and we’re proud to be showcasing the car to the world’s most discerning motoring enthusiasts at Monterey Car Week.”
The Brabham debut at Monterey Car Week
For over 50 years the exclusive stretch of Californian coast has played host to the world’s most prestigious cars, making it the destination for the world’s car collectors to meet and compete. Against this stunning backdrop, Brabham Automotive is teaming up with its technical and tyre partner, Michelin, to give the United States its first glimpse of the next chapter in the story of one of motor racing’s most illustrious marques.
The global launch of the Brabham BT62 in London earlier this year was followed by a series of appearances at world-renowned events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2018, where both David and Geoff Brabham previously secured outright victories, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Brabham Automotive now has its sights set firmly on the North American market, with its debut at one of the world’s most prestigious motoring celebrations, the Monterey Car Week.
Presented in Green and Gold, in celebration of its proud Australian roots, the Brabham BT62 at Monterey Car Week wears a tribute livery to Dan Gurney’s Brabham BT7 in which he won the 1964 French Formula 1 Grand Prix, the first of 35 Formula 1 wins for the Brabham team. The 57-lap race was won by Dan Gurney for Brabham, after starting from second position. Graham Hill finished second, with Jack Brabham third in another Brabham BT7 – the podium very much a who’s-who of Formula 1 drivers in the 1960s.
The Brabham BT62
Designed and developed to deliver blistering on-track performance, the Brabham BT62 follows the same pragmatic approach that saw Brabham achieve 35 Formula 1 Grand Prix wins and four World Championships. Spearheaded by David Brabham, Brabham Automotive continues his family’s winning DNA into the 21st century, leading an experienced team designing and manufacturing high performance cars that defy convention.
Boasting a power-to-weight ratio of 730ps per tonne, a dry weight of just 972kg, the BT62 is powered by a Brabham naturally-aspirated 5.4-litre capacity V8. With 710ps (700bhp, 522kW) and 667 Nm (492 ft/lb) of torque available, the rear-wheel-drive, mid-engined track car incorporates a rear-mounted race-spec transmission to deliver an immensely rewarding experience like nothing else. With its performance-optimised design and the aerodynamic package, the Brabham BT62 delivers over 1200kg of downforce.
Extensively used in the car’s testing and development, the BT62 relies on Michelin racing slick tyres to maximize its performance. Brabham Automotive will be working with Michelin to develop tyres that ensure the continued performance of its vehicles to the very highest levels.
The Brabham BT62 continues the legendary ‘BT’ naming convention established by founders Sir Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac in the 1960s and honours the legacy of the marque’s greatest and most memorable cars. Production will be limited to just 70 cars, marking the 70-year anniversary since Sir Jack Brabham launched his racing career in Australia in 1948.
The first 35 cars, the Celebration Series, will be liveried in celebration of each of Brabham’s 35 Formula 1 Grand Prix victories which include one US Grand Prix win and four Canadian Grand Prix wins. The second 35 cars, the Signature Series, will allow buyers to be creative in their choice of livery. First build slots are currently being allocated for the car, which is priced at £1m plus taxes and before options.
Owners of the Brabham BT62 will join a tailored driver development program to enable them to fully exploit the performance potential of this exceptional car, where they will be mentored by David Brabham and share experiences with former Brabham racing drivers. First deliveries are expected in Q1 2019.
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