British Racing Motors
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British Racing Motors (generally known as BRM) was a British Formula 1 motor racing team. Founded in 1945, it raced from 1950 to 1977, competing in 197 Grand Prix and winning 17. In 1962, BRM won the Constructors' Title. At the same time, its driver, Graham Hill became World Champion. In 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1971, BRM came second in the Constructors' Competition .
The main BRM factory was in Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, behind Eastgate House, the family home of its leading spirit, Raymond Mays.
The firm's most notable development was its earliest, a supercharged 1.5 litre 135° V16 racing engine, which was phenomenally powerful for its capacity and time but it produced that power at a narrow range of engine speeds. A good deal of gear-changing was therefore necessary and its drivers were perhaps relieved when the formula changed and it was dropped. It was notable as a bold attempt at engine development and for its very distinctive sound.
When the 1.5 litre atmospheric (that is, non-supercharged) Formula 1 regulation was introduced, BRM managed to build an engine designed by Aubrey Woods (BRM P56 V8) which was on a par with the Dino V6 used by Ferrari and the Coventry-Climax V8 used by other Briitish teams. A P578 model car powered by this engine won the World Drivers Championship with Graham Hill as a driver.
However, BRM missed its entry in the 3-litre regulation by refusing Aubrey Woods proposal to a build a V 12 building instead a strange engine H 16 (BRM 75). This engine was powerful but heavy and unreliable, had low torque and a high center of gravity. Reason for the choice of this design remains obscure but its probable that the H 16 was appealing for BRM because it shared some parts with the 1.5 liter V8. Jackie Stewart is believed to have said "This piece of metal is better used as a ship's anchor than as a power plant". At that time BRM earned the nickname of "British Racing Misery". However given the shortage of 3-liter F1 engines at that time the H 16 was sold to Lotus and Jim Clark managed to win a Grand Prix with a car powered by that plant.
Later, the firm sold engines to other constructors of which the most notable were John Wyer, McLaren and Matra.
External links
- allf1.info (http://www.allf1.info/teams/brm.php)
- Warwick University Archive - Owen Organisation documents. (http://www.a2a.org.uk/html/152-mss338.htm)