Brabham BT62, Brabham races back

Brabham BT62, Brabham races back. David Brabham – former F1 driver, Le Mans winner and the youngest of three brothers – revives his legendary father’s carmaking enterprise by Michael Stahl. Brabham BT62

It’s the most expensive Australian car ever, and it can’t be driven on the road. Yet, the Brabham BT62 coupé would appear to have everything it needs to succeed. This Anglo-Australian supercar offers brutish good looks, stunning performance (if its downforce figures and power-to-weight ratio are any guide) and a pedigree that harks back to the Australian racing team that took on the world in the ’60s – and beat it. 

Importantly, too, the BT62 has arrived when the market for limited-edition, extreme-performance cars is booming. For proof, consider the recently announced McLaren Senna, a barely street-usable supercar. All 500 examples were pre-sold at $1.35 million apiece, before any buyers had even seen it. 

At $1.8 million before taxes and options, the Brabham (brabhamautomotive.com) is even dearer, but also rarer. Just 70 will be built – significantly, in Australia. And the BT62 is slated to be the first of many models from the new Brabham Automotive factory in northern Adelaide. British-based managing director David Brabham has confirmed the company’s goals, including racing at Le Mans and building a road car.

David, 52, is the youngest son of Sir Jack (who won three world championships as driver and two as constructor). David himself has won Le Mans and competed in F1, and for the past 12 years has worked to build a 21st century Brabham. The big break came when a major Adelaide component supplier – looking for new work after Holden, Ford and Toyota closed their plants – provided the funding. 

David said the project “makes me feel incredibly proud as the Brabham legacy enters a new era”. The BT62, he added, is not a prototype, but fully developed and ready for production. Place your order now, and you could be driving a Brabham BT62 by Christmas. South Australia is also home to The Bend Motorsport Park (Robb Report, May-June), which has been almost purpose-designed for a car of this type, with a worldclass GT racing circuit and upmarket garage/villas to safely store track cars, with direct, private-road access to the racetrack. 

The BT62 price includes a training program, so drivers of all skill levels can get the most possible from a sub-1000kg car with huge ‘aero’ (about 1200 kilos of downforce), slick tyres, a 522kW Brabham V8 engine and F1-style carbon-oncarbon brakes.

The production total commemorates 70 years since Jack Brabham’s first race. Half the cars will be painted in individual race liveries to mark each of the 35 Grand Prix victories won by the Brabham F1 team.

BRABHAM BT62 COUPÉ

Seats: Two

Format: Mid-engine, rear drive

Engine: 5.4-litre V8

Output: 522 kW/667 Nm

Dry weight: 972 kg

Sources: Robb Report Australia, July 2018

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