► Just 70 made
► Coming to Le Mans 2021/2022
► Road legal version possible
The Brabham BT62 started its racing career with a win at Brands Hatch over the weekend. Although more of a shakedown than anything else, the BT62 competed in two rounds of the Britcar Endurance Championship, and even managed a pole and victory at the first race.
In the end, Saturday proved relatively easy for the team: David Brabham set a time two seconds faster than anyone else in a changeable qualifying session, and in the race the BT62 came home around twenty seconds in front of the second-placed car. That’s despite BoP rules meaning the competition-spec BT62 could only open the throttle 60%.
‘To come here and get our first race win is phenomenal,’ said David Brabham. ‘My Dad won here in 1966, in a Brabham, so for me to come here and win in a Brabham is a very emotional moment for me. In terms of the journey that Brabham Automotive has been on to this point, it’s quite incredible.’
Sunday proved less successful though, with the BT62 retiring with an alternator issue before the halfway-point of Race 2. Still, with Le Mans on the cars in two years time, it was amn encouraging first run for the BT62.
Brabham BT62: everything you need to know
Brabham’s new BT62 track car is here and it’s ready to give the new McLaren Senna GTR something to think about. If you can afford it, the new car will set you back £1.2m up front.
If that all in one big lump is a little steep, JBR Capital are offering one of five of the BT62’s build slots and are prepared to offer finance on it. If you’re interested, the offer is of 36 monthly payments of £16,005. Ouch. See the full finance offer below:
Read our guide to the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed here
- Price £1,200,000
- Deposit £240,000
- Monthly payments x 36 £16,005
- Balloon £600,000
- APR 9.9%
What is the BT62?
The new project is led by David Brabham, son of the legendary Jack, and a multiple Le Mans winner in his own right – but it takes an unusual, contrary approach to the modern supercar. On the surface, it’s a hyper-light track weapon – but Brabham says it’s also been designed with a focus on driver skill and reward.
The result is a car covered in aero trickery – much like the Senna GTR it’ll be compared to – and powered by a Brabham-made 5.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8 good for 700bhp. Carbon brakes, a double-wishbone suspension, Ohlins dampers and a sequential transmission are also present, but the car’s killer USP has to be its incredible dry weight.
At just 972kg, the BT62 achieves a punchy power-to-weight ratio, and it’ll take driver skill and motorsport-spec assists to keep it on the tarmac.
How fast is it then?
Solid performance figures are still TBC, but expect the BT62 to eclipse the 211mph, 2.8sec to 62mph McLaren Senna, and challenge the Woking’s marque’s forthcoming GTR version.
Brabham is making 70 cars in total, with the first 35 featuring liveries based on the F1 team’s 35 race wins. We’re told the other 35 will be ‘more bespoke.’ They’re on sale now, and they’ll also come bundled with a driver training course.
Road legal?
Brabham’s road legal package will allow customers to drive their BT62s to the race track. It will cost £150,000 – and that’s in addition to the £1.2m list price.
In addition to the legal bits, other changes will be made to make the BT62 suitable for the road: Brabham will install a lift kit to increase the ride height, the steering lock range will increase, door locks and air conditioning will be added – and customers will get some high quality upholstery inside, too. The engine mapping will be untouched.
‘We designed the BT62 to be an unrestricted, thoroughbred track car and our extensive test programme has revealed it to be all of those things. This isn’t a car designed for the road,’ said David Brabham, managing director of Brabham Automotive. ‘With that said, it’s clear some customers are keen to have a road compliant option with their BT62, particularly to drive to and from the track. My father Jack was always customer-focused and we will continue with that ethos.’
The first road-legal cars will be available in January 2019.
Le Mans return
Brabham has also revealed the BT62 will race at Le Mans – but in the 2021/22 WEC super season. As you’d expect, it’s going to be racing in the GTE class.
‘Returning the Brabham name to Le Mans is something I have been working on for years, so it’s fantastic to make this announcement today,’ said Brabham. ‘Brabham Automotive only launched its first car, the BT62, in May 2018 so we have a long road to travel to earn the right to return to compete at Le Mans.’
‘That work starts now with a long-term racing commitment. We look forward to developing the BT62 and future products while building a world-class competitive race team around the leading engineering and manufacturing talent we have in the business.’
Check out our guide to the 2018 F1 season