Brabham facts for kids

The Repco Brabham logo from the 1960s, illustrating the joint branding of the period

Motor Racing Developments Ltd., commonly known as Brabham, was a British company that built racing cars. It also ran a racing team in Formula One. It was 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. As of 2008, Jack Brabham's 1966 drivers' championship remains the only victory by a car bearing the driver's own name.

Brabham was the world's largest manufacturer of customer open wheel racing cars in the 1960s, and had built more than 500 cars by 1970. During this period, teams using Brabham cars won championships in Formula Two and Formula Three and competed in the Indianapolis 500. In the 1970s and 1980s, Brabham introduced innovations such as the controversial but successful 'fan car', in-race refuelling, carbon brakes, and hydropneumatic suspension. The team won two more Formula One drivers' championships in the 1980s with Brazilian Nelson Piquet, and became the first to win a drivers' championship with a turbocharged car.

British businessman Bernie Ecclestone owned Brabham during most of the 1970s and 1980s, and later become responsible for administering the commercial aspects of Formula One. Ecclestone sold the team in 1988. Its last owner was the Middlebridge Group, a Japanese engineering firm. Midway through the 1992 season, the team collapsed financially as Middlebridge was unable to make repayments against loans provided by Landhurst Leasing. The case was investigated by the UK Serious Fraud Office.

Images for kids

Jack Brabham was 40 when he won the F1 drivers' title in a Brabham car.
The Brabham Racing Organisation entered the "works" cars until 1968.
The Brabham BT3, the first Brabham Formula One design
Brabham BT33. Technically conservative, Brabham did not produce a monocoque car until 1970.
The Brabham BT49 competed over four seasons, winning one championship.
Several F1 teams used Brabhams (Piers Courage, FWRC, 1969).
The BT40 was the last Formula Two model from Brabham.
Brabham's last USAC race-winning car—the Brabham BT25 IndyCar of 1968.
The Brabham BT18-Honda completely dominated Formula Two in 1966
Top drivers used Brabham F3 cars in their early careers. (James Hunt, 1969)
The Brabham BT45 driven by José Carlos Pace.
The 1978 BT46B "Fan car" won its only race before being banned.