The potent Brabham BT62 launched

David Brabham has launched the BT62, the first car from the highly anticipated Brabham Automotive group. The BT62 continues the former F1 team’s naming convention established by its founders Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac in the 1960s.

The car itself is an incredibly potent machine, as implied by the stunning headline figure – 720 bhp per tonne, thanks to a dry weight of just 972 kg and a Brabham naturally-aspirated 5.4 litre V8. For reference, the latest track day lunacy from Mclaren- taking the form of the incredible Senna – has a more powerful 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8, which spits out 789 bhp, but significantly that car only has a power to weight ratio of 659 bhp per tonne because of its higher weight.

Brabham says the new car has been “specifically designed, developed and tested to reward like no other”, and has been designed and engineered to demand more from the driver and completely immerse them in the driving experience. “It’s a car for those who want to challenge themselves and their limitations to experience driving in its purest form,” the company adds.

Those lucky few who end up owning the £1m-plus racer, which is limited to just 70 examples, will join the Brabham driver development programme, where their physical ability and determination will be raised to a place where the performance potential of both the driver and the vehicle can be exploited.

Charged with overseeing the development of the Brabham BT62, Brabham Automotive’s Director of Technology and Engineering, Paul Birch, said: “Created from a blank sheet of paper, our first car takes Brabham into an exciting new era, whilst honouring and upholding the marque’s glorious past. Using contemporary materials, processes and technologies, and following a rigorous two-year engineering and development programme, the resulting BT62 is a car that demands total engagement and commitment from its driver, delivering immense reward and satisfaction.”