82nd, Lauda Triumphs with Controversial Brabham Fan Car at Anderstorp
Like most of Gordon Murray’s designs, the Brabham BT46B was a paragon of proportional elegance. It had a feature unlike any other, though, and also holds the distinction of winning every world championship grand prix it started… albeit just the one.
1978 Swedish GP
June 17, Anderstorp
Colin Chapman had recently created an F1 template that endures by using aerodynamics as a performance aid – and for much of 1978 his Lotus 79 was borderline untouchable. In Sweden, however, it came up against Murray’s BT46B, which featured a large fan mounted vertically beneath the rear wing. Brabham argued that its primary function was to cool the car’s Alfa Romeo flat-12: the fact it also sucked air from beneath the chassis, creating a partial vacuum and colossal downforce, was apparently happy coincidence.
Mario Andretti took pole for Lotus, ahead of the Brabhams of John Watson and Niki Lauda… but there was a strong feeling that the latter had both been sandbagging. Andretti took the lead at the start, with Lauda second as Watson dropped swiftly to fifth, behind Riccardo Patrese and Ronnie Peterson. The Ulsterman would retire after 20 laps, when a sticking throttle caused him to spin.
Lauda shadowed Andretti for the first 38 laps, then took the lead and cruised away to win at his leisure, his margin of superiority only slightly amplified when Andretti stopped with piston failure.
The result stood, despite other teams’ unhappiness, but Brabham then voluntarily withdrew the BT46B from service. Was this benevolence or politics? Fact: team chief Bernie Ecclestone had recently taken over as chief executive of the Formula 1 Constructors Association (FOCA)… and might just need his rivals’ support. SA
1st Niki Lauda (Brabham-Alfa Romeo)
2nd Riccardo Patrese (Arrows-Cosworth)
3rd Ronnie Peterson (Lotus-Cosworth)
Winner’s time & speed 1hr 41min 00.606sec, 104.147mph
Pole position Mario Andretti (Lotus-Cosworth), 1min 22.058sec, 109.867mph