In a different world, a Sliding Doors-esque alternate timeline, it’s not difficult to picture Brabham Automotive in the position McLaren Automotive is today.
Brabham BT62: full details of 700bhp track-only hypercar
Australian Sir Jack Brabham founded his racing team in 1960; New Zealander Bruce McLaren, Brabham’s Formula 1 team-mate at Cooper from 1959 until ’61, launched his in 1963.
Brabham’s team claimed championship titles in 1966 (for Brabham, pictured below) and ’67 (with Denny Hulme driving). McLaren won drivers’ titles in 1974 (Emerson Fittipaldi) and ’76 (James Hunt).
Both teams were reinvigorated under new ownership: Bernie Ecclestone bought Brabham in 1971, Ron Dennis seized control of McLaren a decade later.
It was in the 1980s that their paths diverged. Nelson Piquet won the 1981 and ’83 titles (below), driving Brabhams designed by Gordon Murray. But with Ecclestone increasingly focused on seizing F1’s commercial rights through his role with the Formula One Constructors’ Association (FOCA), the team began to flounder and, in 1986, Murray switched to McLaren as technical director.
As Brabham faded away – Ecclestone sold it in 1988; it folded in 1992 – McLaren thrived, growing rapidly using the cash Ecclestone was helping bring into the sport. With Murray’s input, the team dominated in 1988 and ’89, before he switched over to design the seminal McLaren F1 road car. It was a precursor to McLaren’s now fast-growing road car division.
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When McLaren introduced the
When McLaren introduced the F1, there was nothing else to compete with it, nothing came close. The Brabham BT62 will be entering a crowded market, relatively speaking. It will need to be something very special by exalted class standards.
This spectacular 'MacSenna' beater...
may well be the start of something which will gradually include other Brabham sports cars. Why not? God knows that they can use the input down yonder after car makers closed down manufacturing plants. Have always felt that a Tesla should have been, could have been an Aussie startup. With solar energy aplenty to boost car development based on battery power.
Its just a name not a pedigree...
I'd argue that McLaren's pedigree largely rests on the F1, more than their motorsports heritage. That they could make a road car that subsequently won Le Mans. That immediately put themselves amongst the greats.
Brabham might get there, but it wont be because of the branding. People arent daft.