BRM V16 to race at Goodwood for first time in 70 years

F1
- Last updated: September 17th 2022

As part of its F1 titles' 60th-anniversary celebrations, BRM will race one of its V16 reproductions at Goodwood Revival, 70 years after it took a 1-2-3 on the same circuit

BRM-V16-F1-car-

The legendary BRM V16 is set to roar again at Goodwood

BRM

Author

James Elson

BRM, one of the iconic teams which led the British invasion of F1, is to make its return to racing at Goodwood with the same car that took it to glory there 70 years ago.

A fourth example of one of the newly produced, historically faithful reproductions of its famous MK1 P15 V16 car will take to the track almost 70 years to the day after its greatest triumph, when it scored a resounding 1-2-3 race victory with José Froilán Gonzalez, Reg Parnell and Ken Wharton at the 1952 Goodwood Trophy.

Originally designed to lead Britain’s challenge in the world championship, this was the last significant triumph for the 600bhp monster, after the F1 rules it was designed for were cancelled in favour of F2.

Now though, to celebrate 60 years since BRM claimed both drivers’ and constructors’ titles with Graham Hill, the famous name will return to compete in the Goodwood Trophy once more – this time as part of the venue’s renowned Revival event.

BRM-V16-F1-car-doing-a-burnout

BRM is racing the car as a means of relaunching its brand

BRM

The V16 was long known for being a white elephant in racing terms, either failing to start or finish races due to chronic reliability issues from its 1950-1955 racing period, usually related to its complex engine. It scoring championship points just once, at the 1951 British GP.

Stirling Moss was hired to develop and race it but only entered one event, the Ulster GP, along with Juan Manuel Fangio. Both went out, predictably with engine issues in a car which was prone to wheel spin in fourth gear.

Moss was less than complimentary about the car, telling Motor Sport, “Handling? it didn’t have any.”

Fangio however was effusive in his praise of the car, but ultimately never raced it again.

“I consider it to be, basically, the best Formula 1 car ever made,” said the five-time champion, who did win a non-championship heat with it at Albi. “All it needs is improvement in certain details. No car has ever given me such a thrill to drive, or a greater sense of absolute mastery. I will stand by it.”

From the archive

The car’s Goodwood triumph stands as its only significant achievement as it became a costly, and rather large, footnote to BRM’s grand prix history.

Since then though, the once largely unloved machine has garnered a reputation as a cult competition car, so much so that the Owen family, whose company took over the team in the 1950s and still owns the rights to the name, decided to relaunch the brand with faithful reproductions of the V16.

“We have been very clear from the start of the project that the final three MK1 P15s are to be built so that they can be seen and be heard,” said John Owen, son of Sir Alfred Owen, who lead the original takeover.

“They form an incredibly important part of British Motor Racing and British engineering history and it is vital that this is not forgotten. What better way to demonstrate this to the next generation by actually racing?”

B-BRM-V16-F1-car-

Though strong results were sparse in period, the car has become a cult classic

BRM

The car will be driven by respected historic racer Rob Hall, competing in the Revival’s oldest trophy and going up against other such early grand prix machinery that competed at Goodwood when it first opened, such as Maserati 6CMs, Alfa Romeo P3s and ERAs.

“Other than upgraded magnetos, this car is totally original,” said Owen. “In the spirit of Goodwood, the Chassis IV V16 has not been modified to go faster or tweaked to handle better – it is fundamentally the very same car that raced in the Goodwood Trophy 70 years ago.”

Other classic BRMs will also be on display across the weekend as part of the marque’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

Tickets to the Goodwood Revival are on sale now and be purchased here.

Comments

Loading Comments