Brabham BT60 explained

Car Name:Brabham BT60Y
Category:Formula One
Constructor:Brabham
Designer:Sergio Rinland (Technical Director)
Tim Densham (Chief Designer)
Hans Fouche (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor:Brabham BT59Y
Team:Motor Racing Developments Ltd.
Drivers:7. Martin Brundle
7. Eric van de Poele
8. Mark Blundell
8. Giovanna Amati
8. Damon Hill
Technical Ref:[1] [2]
Chassis:Carbon fibre monocoque
Front Suspension:Double wishbones, pushrods
Rear Suspension:Double wishbones, pushrods
Engine Name:Yamaha OX99, 34981NaN1, 72° V12, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Judd GV, 34981NaN1, 72° V10, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Gearbox Name:Brabham / Hewland transverse
Gears:6-speed
Type:semi-automatic
Fuel:BP
Tyres:Goodyear
Debut:1991 San Marino Grand Prix
Races:25
Wins:0
Cons Champ:0
Drivers Champ:0
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:0

The Brabham BT60 was the final series of Formula One racing cars built for the Brabham Formula One motor racing team. Designed by Sergio Rinland, they raced in the 1991 and 1992 Formula One World Championships. The car brought to a close Brabham's 30 years of construction of purpose-built racing cars, which began with Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac and the Brabham BT1 Formula Junior design in 1961.

BT60Y

The first car, the BT60Y, was powered by the Yamaha OX99 V12 engine. It was driven by Martin Brundle, who was returning to Brabham and Formula One again after driving for Jaguar in the 1990 World Sportscar Championship. The team's second car was driven by Formula One rookie Mark Blundell.

Brabham only scored three points in 1991, with one 5th-place for Brundle, and Blundell scoring one 6th-place finish. The team finished 10th in the Constructors' Championship.

BT60B

For the 1992 Formula One season the team used a modified version of the car, dubbed the BT60B, which was powered by the Judd GV V10 engine. The cars were driven by Eric van de Poele from Belgium and Italian rookie Giovanna Amati. Part way through the year Amati was replaced by another Formula One rookie, future World Drivers' Champion Damon Hill. The BT60B was the last Formula One car produced by Brabham.

The season was a complete disaster for the once great Brabham team. After van de Poele qualified 26th and last and finished 13th (again last) at the opening race in South Africa, neither car qualified for a race until round nine, the 1992 British Grand Prix, where Hill qualified 26th.

Two races later the team had its last race meeting in Formula One, at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Hill gave the team its highest finish of the season finishing 11th, some four laps down on race winner Ayrton Senna.

BT61

Brabham fell into administration and attempts were made by RM Motorsports to buy the team. During this time, the company engaged Galmer Engineering to build a successor for the BT60B. The BT61 would have competed in the season, but development of the car was never completed after RM Motorsport failed to name what engine would be used or pay Galmer Engineering for their work. The company never completed the purchase of the team and the team was eventually liquidated.[3]

Complete Formula One results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngineTyresDrivers12345678910111213141516PointsWCC
Motor Racing DevelopmentsBT60YYamaha OX99
V12
USABRASMRMONCANMEXFRAGBRGERHUNBELITAPORESPJPNAUS310th
Martin Brundle11DSQRetRetRetRet11Ret91312105DNQ
Mark Blundell8RetDNQRetRetRet12Ret612RetRetDNPQ17
Motor Racing DevelopmentsBT60BJudd GV
V10
RSAMEXBRAESPSMRMONCANFRAGBRGERHUNBELITAPORJPNAUS0NC
Eric van de Poele13DNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ
Giovanna AmatiDNQDNQDNQ
Damon HillDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ16DNQ11

Notes and References

  1. Web site: STATS F1 • Brabham BT60Y. Statsf1.com . 2010-08-23.
  2. Web site: STATS F1 • Brabham BT60B . Statsf1.com . 2010-08-23.
  3. Watkins. Gary. 28 February 2019. Turner. Kevin. Whatever happened to the BT61?. Autosport. en-GB. London. Motorsport Network. 37. 0269-946X.