Brabham BT62 - Kicking it Back on Track
The Brabham BT62 is a 700 HP, 972 kg track-only hypercar built by Brabham Automotive, the revival of one of Formula 1's most storied names. Created by David Brabham, son of triple F1 World Champion Jack Brabham, the BT62 signals the family's return to serious motorsport not through a racing series entry, but through a limited-production, carbon-bodied road-to-track weapon designed for pure circuit performance.
A Name Reborn: Brabham Automotive and the BT62
Brabham Automotive was founded by David Brabham with one goal: to build a car worthy of the family legacy. Rather than chasing a place in Formula 1, the team channelled decades of racing knowledge into an all-new track-only hypercar. The BT62 name itself carries meaning: BT stands for Brabham-Tauranac, the partnership that defined the original team, and 62 references the year Jack Brabham first won the Formula 1 World Championship with a car he built himself.
Engine and Performance: 700 HP Naturally Aspirated V8
At the heart of the BT62 sits a 5.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. Starting life as a proven OEM block, it was then extensively redesigned and developed in-house by Brabham into a dedicated race unit. Peak power stands at 700 HP at 7,400 RPM, with peak torque of 492 lb-ft arriving at 6,200 RPM. That output is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed race-specification Holinger sequential gearbox with pneumatic actuation, chosen for its precision and reliability under track conditions.
The carbon-fibre monocoque body keeps weight to just 972 kg, giving the BT62 an exceptional power-to-weight ratio that puts many purpose-built prototypes to shame. Aerodynamic grip is generated by an adjustable rear wing and a full underbody diffuser, producing over 1,200 kg of downforce at speed. Michelin competition slick tyres, double-wishbone suspension front and rear with Ohlins four-way adjustable dampers, and Brembo carbon-ceramic six-piston brakes complete a package built to be exploited at the limit, lap after lap.
Carbon Construction and Downforce
The BT62's body is constructed entirely from carbon fibre, keeping kerb weight at 972 kg despite the extensive aerodynamic bodywork. That bodywork is not cosmetic: the front splitter, side floor elements, adjustable rear wing and full underbody diffuser are each calibrated to extract maximum downforce without compromising structural integrity. The 41/59 front-to-rear weight distribution helps balance the car under heavy braking and through high-speed corners, where the downforce figure of over 1,200 kg makes the BT62 feel more planted the faster it goes.
70 Units, £1 Million: A Collector's Track Machine
Production is limited to exactly 70 units, a deliberate nod to the 70 years that had passed since Jack Brabham began his racing career. Each car is built to order at a price of £1 million before taxes and options, making the BT62 one of the most exclusive track-day investments available. Buyers also receive a dedicated motorsport programme including coaching, track events and on-site support, meaning the BT62 is not simply purchased but experienced as part of a wider racing lifestyle.
For context on the broader landscape of coachbuilt and purpose-built hypercars, explore the Cars collection at TheArsenale, which gathers some of the world's most extraordinary machines. Among them, the Delage D12 F1-inspired hypercar and the Frangivento Sorpasso GT3 represent the same obsession with circuit performance translated into bespoke road and track hardware. For those drawn to autonomous racing innovation, the Robocar autonomous electric race car offers a different dimension of the motorsport future.
External references: Brabham BT62 at Goodwood (Autocar) and Brabham BT62 track-only supercar (Top Gear).
