While normal cars appear to be vanishing from automaker lineups at an unsettlingly swift pace, it now seems as though there are more supercars available for purchase than ever. Earlier this year, British racing car manufacturer and former Formula One racing team Brabham announced it was planning to produce another one.
We were a little disappointed when we found out it wasn’t intended for street use. Still, as track-only models go, you’d be hard pressed to find something boasting better specs. It may be just another mid-engined plaything for the super wealthy, but it pays homage to the brand’s racing heritage and takes aim at McLaren’s Senna — and that’s worth getting excited about.
Perhaps more importantly, the Brabham BT62 provides a glimpse into the brand’s future — which is supposed to include a Le Mans endurance racer and a street-legal variant of the same model.
In the meantime, we have a singular track-only unit pushing out 700 horsepower and 492 lb-ft of torque from its naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8. When asked why the company didn’t adopt forced induction, Brabham stated it wanted to prioritize response and minimize weight wherever possible. At only 2,143 pounds without fuel, we’d say the company has done a bang up job on the latter half of the equation.
A fixed aero package, made predominantly of carbon fiber, produces more than 2,645 pounds of downforce at speed. Brabham did not specify at what speed the BT62 puts all of that air to work, but a set of Michelin racing slicks ought to keep it planted until then. Extensive suspension details were unavailable, though the manufacturer has said it’s a double-wishbone setup with adjustable anti-roll bars and Ohlins dampers. Brakes are carbon units with six-piston calipers all around.
The interior, while not barren, isn’t what you would consider plush. This is a racing car, and the removable steering wheel, adjustable pedals (instead of seats), rollcage, and FIA-approved carbon-fiber seats with six-point harnesses serve as a constant reminder.
At a sky-high $1.5 million, Brabham says it only intends to build 70 BT62s “to celebrate the seventy years since Sir Jack Brabham launched his racing career in Australia in 1948 and the birth of Brabham Automotive in 2018.” The first 35 cars will also be liveried to commemorate the company’s racing heritage — specifically from the 1960s era, when Black Jack partnered up with Ron Tauranac.
We’re suckers for heritage stuff, but it’s twice as exciting to hear the company wants to enter a car into LeMans and eventually build street-legal hypercars. Hopefully, the company offers details on both soon. Until then, those who can afford the Brabham BT62 will be able to enjoy a driver development and experience program to come to grips with their new purchase. Deliveries are expected to begin later this year.
[Images: Brabham]
What is Americas racing color?
Blue/White combinations. Search Cunningham, Shelby, etc. for example pics.
This is a version of Australia’s Green/Gold I believe (and it’s gorgeous IMO).
Wow I am a nerd.
that makes sense….could throw in the Viper GTS and Corvette grand sport.
But has that color ever been represented well internationally other than the Daytona Coupe?
You could make a case for the Ron Fellows Yellow/Black C5-R et al if we are talking international success.
Ford GT-40; Shelby Cobra-Jet.
I think the GT 40 actually won lemans in every color except blue and white….
Blue and white looks to be decidedly a shelby thing
Actually, Ron is Canadian. His home team colours are British Racing Green with 2×6″ white stripes spaced 4″ apart. I think the Aussies got green/gold and the kiwis green/yellow
The C5/6/7-R international victories have come almost exclusively from the Michagan USA based Pratt and Miller team with the familiar yellow color scheme. The team/manufacturer origin is the relevant characteristic.
Oh, another automatic coupe.
It’s a performance car. You might as well be bitching about the fact that it doesn’t have a set of down draft webers on it.
I will complain about whatever autotragic status symbol I please, sir.
What’s the point of headlights on a car like this? Would it ever be driven on an unlit track after dark?
Even a “lit” track is dark, plus you need to flash your high beams to get those slow 911 Cup cars to move out of your way.
Wonder where the powertrain comes from?
Another report I read said the engine is Brabham’s own design. Don’t know about the gearbox.
I’m having a hard time figuring out the usage case for this thing. It’s a track car but not a race car as such. I’m all for track days, but doing that with a $1.5M car seems a bit over the top.
Ferrari has made a few of those for those that would like to suck up even more to them.
And it’s going to be built in the shadow of the Holden factory’s demise in Elizabeth South Australia. Whether it’ll be built in the actual factory or another empty car parts building is yet to be seen. To build a unique factory for just 70 vehicles wouldn’t be viable for any maker. The other thing is that they would have a brand new race track to run around on, The Bend Motorsport Park, about an hour out of the city.
It seems to be left-hand-drive. Interesting for a car from the Land Down Under. (Or were the pics inadvertently reversed?)