<< Prev Page 2 of 2 To accommodate for larger engines, Brabham designer Ron Tauranac created the sturdier BT8 for the 1964 season. The official designation was actually BT8A, as halfway through the development process further design changes were made to warrant a new type name but as no BT8s were built, the BT8A never stuck. Brabham experimented with a two-litre version of the BRM Formula 1 V8 engine but most customers opted to run the less high strung Climax 'four', either in 2- or 2.5-litre form.
Launched at the London Racing Car Show in January of 1964, the BT8 proved very popular and between 1964 and 1966 a total of 12 cars were built. Thanks to the larger and more powerful engine, very strong chassis and slippery lines, the BT8 quickly became the car to beat. Denny Hulme scored the car's greatest victory by beating a field of much larger engined Lola T70s, Lotus 30s and McLaren M1s to win the 1965 Tourist Trophy at Oulton Park outright.
In 1966, Brabham built a single Repco V8-engine BT17 sports racer that was supposed to supersede the BT8. It did not live up to the expectations and the specialist manufacturer instead decided to focus on producing and racing single seaters. Brabham's foray into sports car racing was short lived but nevertheless very successful. Today the BT5s and BT8s are highly sought after and regularly raced in historic events around the world. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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To accommodate for larger engines, Brabham designer Ron Tauranac created the sturdier BT8 for the 1964 season. The official designation was actually BT8A, as halfway through the development process further design changes were made to warrant a new type name but as no BT8s were built, the BT8A never stuck. Brabham experimented with a two-litre version of the BRM Formula 1 V8 engine but most customers opted to run the less high strung Climax 'four', either in 2- or 2.5-litre form.