Brabham BT62#Brabham BT63

File:2018 Brabham BT62 5.4 Rear.jpg

The BT62 is powered by a mid-mounted 5.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine that is based on the Ford V8 modular engine architecture of American manufacturer Ford Motor Company.{{cite web| url = https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/brabham-bt62-what-we-know-about-its-v8-engine| title = Brabham BT62: What we know about its V8 engine| date = 11 May 2018}}{{cite web| url = https://drivetribe.com/p/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-fOrXSDSFTnuDn-hsQti8sg?iid=PznToAhgRAu7IslWmMp3zg| title = What you need to know about the Brabham BT62}} The engine has been extensively modified and has a power output of {{cvt|515|kW|hp PS|0|abbr=on}} at 7,400 rpm and {{cvt|492|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}} of torque at 6,200 rpm, giving the car a power-to-weight ratio of 653 hp per ton.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}} Power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed Holinger sequential-shift racing transmission controlled by steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, and stopping is handled by carbon-to-carbon disc brakes, with carbon pads actuated by six pistons acting on carbon rotors.{{Cite news|url=http://www.motortrend.com/news/brabham-bt62-first-look/|title=Brabham BT62 First Look: For Serious Track-Rats Only - Motor Trend|date=2018-05-02|work=Motor Trend|access-date=2018-05-06|language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Brabham launches BT62 hypercar |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/news/road-cars/brabham-launches-bt62-hypercar |website=Motor Sport Magazine |access-date=17 August 2018 |language=en |date=2 May 2018}}

The chassis of the BT62 uses what Brabham calls a ‘tubular metallic architecture’ and the body features lightweight carbon fibre body panels, as well as carbon-kevlar wheel housings, to give the car a dry weight of {{Convert|2142|lb|kg|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}. The car has a full fixed aero package as an option that includes a front splitter, rear diffuser and large rear wing, that are all made from carbon fibre and together are capable of producing {{Convert|2645|lb|kg|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} of downforce. The suspension uses a double wishbone setup in the front and rear and features pushrod actuated four-way adjustable Öhlins dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars. The wheels are 18 inch centre locking units and are wrapped in Michelin racing slicks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/brabham-bt62-ps12m-700bhp-track-only-supercar|title=The Brabham BT62 is a £1.2m, 700bhp track-only supercar|website=www.topgear.com|date=2 May 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-05-06}}

The interior is relatively sparse as the BT62 is built for track day driving and features FIA-spec carbon fibre seat shells, a six-point harness, Alcantara trim, leather door pulls, an adjustable pedal box, a carbon fibre dashboard, a 12-inch digital gauge cluster, a removable carbon fibre steering wheel and a fire extinguisher.{{Cite news|url=http://autoweek.com/article/supercars/here-brabham-bt62-1-million-plus-track-machine|title=Here's the Brabham BT62: The $1 million-plus hypercar with big Le Mans dreams|work=Autoweek|access-date=2018-05-06}}

File:BRABHAM BT62.jpg

Brabham intended to produce 70 cars to celebrate the 70 years since the company founder Sir Jack Brabham launched his racing career in Australia in 1948. The first 35 cars will be finished in the corresponding liveries of Brabham's 35 Grand Prix winning cars, while the rest will be finished to the owner's specifications.{{Cite news|url=https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/a20133417/meet-the-track-hungry-brabham-bt62/|title=Meet the Track-Hungry Brabham BT62|date=2018-05-03|work=Road & Track|access-date=2018-05-06|language=en-US}} The BT62 has a retail price of around US$1.4 million (around £1 million at current exchange rates). The price includes admission into the Brabham driver development programme, which offers personalised driver coaching sessions to help the owners make the most of their cars on the track.{{Cite news|url=https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/a19860593/the-brabham-bt62-is-a-700-horsepower-track-slayer/|title=The Brabham BT62 Is a 700-Horsepower Track Slayer|date=2018-04-19|work=Road & Track|access-date=2018-05-06|language=en-US}} All production ceased in 2024, when Brabham closed its doors.{{cite web | url=https://www.motor1.com/news/704875/brabham-supercar-is-dead/ | title=Brabham's Track-Only BT62 Supercar is Dead }}

File:2020 Brabham BT62 R.jpg

Although the BT62 in its standard form is not road-legal, Brabham offers a road legal conversion to its customers known as the Brabham BT62-R{{Cite web|date=2020-09-10|title=2021 Brabham BT62R @ Top Speed|url=https://www.topspeed.com/cars/zzz-others/2021-brabham-bt62r/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Top Speed|language=en}} with the conversion and registration process carried out in the UK after going through an IVA (Independent Vehicle Assessment).{{Cite news|url=https://jalopnik.com/hell-yes-you-can-make-your-brabham-bt62-road-legal-1827727512|title=Hell Yes You Can Make Your Brabham BT62 Road Legal|last=Goy|first=Alex|work=Jalopnik|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en-US}} International buyers will supposedly still be able to carry out the procedure and be able to drive the car in other countries by having the car shipped back to the U.K. once every 12 months to Brabham for an annual service in order to comply with the registration laws. The shipping costs of the car would reportedly be borne by the company for every visit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/goodwood-festival-speed-2018/brabham-bt62-can-be-made-road-legal|title=The Brabham BT62 can be made road legal|date=2018-07-20|work=Top Gear|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en}}

File:BritcarBrabhamBT62.jpg.]]

The BT62 made its racing debut in the infamous 'Into the Night' race at Brands Hatch, competing in the 2019 Britcar Endurance Championship on the 9th and 10 November.{{Cite web|url=http://www.britcar-endurance.com/newsRead.php?link=278&page=0|title=Goodyear and Brabham Automotive announce global partnership|website=Britcar Endurance|access-date=9 September 2019}} On the 21st of October, it was announced that David Brabham and Will Powell will pilot the car in the races.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brabhamautomotive.com/news/brabham-automotive-announce-drivers-for-bt62-racing-debut/|title=BRABHAM AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCE DRIVERS FOR BT62 RACING DEBUT|website=Brabham Automotive|access-date=21 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.britcar-endurance.com/newsRead.php?link=282&page=0|title=Brabham Automotive Announce Drivers for BT62 Racing Debut|website=Britcar Endurance|access-date=24 October 2019}} The car started from pole position in the first race and eventually won its first ever race outing.{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Steve|url=https://www.britcar-endurance.com/newsRead.php?link=286&page=0|title=Brands Hatch Night Race 1: Brabham BT62 Wins on Race Debut|website=Britcar Endurance|access-date=13 November 2019}} In the next race, on Sunday, Will Powell lead the field away before a safety car came out. The BT62 pitted with an alternator problem, he rejoined the race initially but the car eventually retired, only completing 17 laps.{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Steve|url=https://www.britcar-endurance.com/newsRead.php?link=287&page=0|title=Brands Hatch Night Race 2: Moss Motorsport BMW 1M Realises Potential|website=Britcar Endurance|access-date=13 November 2019}} The BT62 Competition ran in the 2020 Britcar Endurance Championship driven by reigning champion Paul Bailey, alongside British GT4 and Britcar champion Ross Wylie, who is also Brabham Automotive's development driver. This was the first customer-purchased BT62 to race in motorsport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brabhamautomotive.com/news/2019-britcar-champion-to-race-his-brabham-bt62-for-2020-campaign/|title=2019 BRITCAR CHAMPION TO RACE HIS BRABHAM BT62 FOR 2020 CAMPAIGN|website=Brabham Automotive|access-date=9 January 2019}} In the South Island Endurance Series in New Zealand, owner Dwayne Carter and three-time Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen raced a Brabham BT62 at Euromarque Motorsport Park in a 3 hour endurance race, but had a right rear wheel come off on the second lap and returned to the track over 30 laps down an hour into the race, before retiring the car later on in the race before van Gisbergen could even turn a lap.

BrabhamBT62ingarage1.jpg|The front of the BT62 in the garage.

BrabhamBT62ingarage2.jpg|The rear of the BT62 in the garage.

BrabhamBT62Spoiler.jpg|The rear wing of the BT62 in the garage.

BrabhamBT62.jpg|The BT62 on the Brabham Straight at Brands Hatch.

In 2021 a detuned evolution of the BT62 was announced as the BT63. The car is a racing specification car eligible for GT2 regulations. The engine capacity was reduced to 5.2 litres with a reduced power output of {{cvt|441|kW|hp PS|0|abbr=on}} at 7,700 rpm and {{cvt|490|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}} of torque at 6,200 rpm. The car, known specifically as the Brabham BT63 GT2 is heavier, over 1250 kg. The aim is to meet the requirements of a 2:1 power to weight ratio mandated by GT2 regulations. The BT63 made its racing debut at Circuit Paul Ricard on October 1, 2021 in the 2021 GT2 European Series run by High Class Racing.

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Brabham BT62}}

• {{Official website|https://www.brabhamautomotive.com/bt62/}}

Category:Cars introduced in 2018

Category:Cars of Australia

Category:Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles