Andrew Hibberd driving his 1972, Brabham BT38, down the pit lane for the start of the qualifying session for the HSCC Historic Formula 2 Race
Brabham is the common name for Motor Racing Developments Ltd., a British racing car manufacturer and Formula One racing team. Founded in 1960 by two Australians, driver Jack Brabham and designer Ron Tauranac, the team won four Drivers' and two Constructors' World Championships in its 30-year Formula One history. Jack Brabham's 1966 FIA Drivers' Championship remains the only such achievement using a car bearing the driver's own name. The 1972 F2 Brabham BT38 was based on the 1971 BT36, but was a monocoque instead of a spaceframe. MRD records state 16 were built, but there is evidence of 19 or 20 cars being raced. The Brabham BT38 was MRD's first production monocoque, but despite suggestions that a monocoque was Bernie Ecclestone's suggestion, work started on the BT38 in February 1971, six months before Bernie Ecclestone acquired MRD. The car was designed by Geoff Ferris, who had worked on the Lotus 72 and the March 711, with Ron Tauranac in overall control. It used a simple square section bathtub monocoque which finished just behind the driver, with the engine and gearbox mounted in a tubular sub assembly. Suspension followed traditional Brabham lines, with outboard springs and double wishbones at the front; single reversed A-bracket, top link and radius arms at the rear. Radiators were either side of the driver, with a flat nose and side wings. Brabham's design team at the time also included Ralph Bellamy, aerodynamicist Ray Jessop and a young lad called Gordon Murray.
Size: 4643px × 2910px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2, 1972, 2000cc, 2019, andrew, blue, brabham, british, bt38, car, circuit, class, classic, close-, cockpit, developments, formula, helmit, hibberd, historic, hscc, jack, lane, manufacturer, mike, motor, national, northamptonshire, pit, pits, qualifying, race, racing, ron, silverstone, straight, tauranac, towcester, yellow
