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BRM P25 - from breakdown devil to Grand Prix winner

Name: BRM P25 1955
Brand: BRM

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Created on January 28, 2021

Text:

Daniel Reinhard

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Courtesy Bonhams (2007)

Bruno von Rotz

Antoine Dellenbach

Daniel Reinhard

Courtesy Bonhams (2007)

Bruno von Rotz

Antoine Dellenbach

BRM P25 (1958) - after teething troubles, the P25 became increasingly reliable

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BRM P25 (1958) - ready for the next (historic) race

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BRM P25 (1958) - the driver sits far back

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BRM P25 (1958) - the tank is located behind the driver

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BRM P25 (1958) - slim build but less low than the competition

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BRM P25 (1958) - typical front engine layout

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BRM P25 (1958) - minimalist dashboard and large steering wheel

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BRM P25 (1958) - Air intakes for cooling and combustion

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BRM P25 (1958) - the front consists mainly of cooling air intakes

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BRM P25 (1958) - exhaust pipes escaping from the side of the four-cylinder engine

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BRM P25 (1958) - already with rear suspensions modified by Chapman

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BRM P25 (1958) - Dunlop disk wheels with central hubs (like the Jaguar D-Type)

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BRM P25 (1959) - A look inside the BRM workshop

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BRM P25 (1959) - Chassis 27/3, Joakim Bonnier at the wheel

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BRM P25 (1959) - British Grand Prix in 1959, Joakim Bonnier in the fast Beckets Corner at Silverstone

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BRM P25 (1958) - Harry Schell at the French GP Reims in 1958

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BRM P25 (1959) - Accident at the German GP at the Nürburgring

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BRM P25 (1958) - French GP Reims of 1958, the front row of the grid with Mike Hawthorn and Luigi Musso, both Ferrari, and Harry Schell on BRM

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BRM P25 (1959) - GP Holland Zandvoort: The duel for the lead between Jack Brabham in the mid-engined Cooper and Joakim Bonnier, the eventual winner, in the BRM

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BRM P25 (1959) - the only victory of a BRM P25: the Swede Joakim Bonnier wins the 1959 Dutch GP

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BRM P25 (1959) - Chassis 27/3, on the road by airplane

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BRM Type 25 (1958) - in the race for the Richmond & Gordon Trophies at the Goodwood Revival 2012

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BRM Type 25 (1958) - in the race for the Richmond Trophy at the Goodwood Revival 2013

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BRM P25 (1958) - Series B - Grand Prix Historique de Monaco 2014

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BRM P25 (1958) - Chantilly Arts & Elégance 2016

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BRM Type 25 (1956) - fast and powerful, but not very reliable, therefore only one victory - at least 5th place at the Monaco GP in 1958 (Techno Classica 2017)

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BRM P25 (1955) - on the Fisken stand - Rétromobile Paris 2018

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Summary

After the less successful P15, BRM developed a much simpler monoposto with the P25, which nevertheless offered some refinements. However, the car initially proved to be very unreliable, even if there was no lack of basic speed. Eventually, reliability improved and the first victories followed. Its career ended prematurely when the mid-engine revolution began, which BRM was also unable to escape. This racing car report describes the history of the four-cylinder BRM and shows it in modern and historical images.

This article contains the following chapters

Playing it safe
From misfortune and mishaps
Teething troubles in the third year too
Jean Behra brought about the turnaround
Another bright spot
The end of the front-engine in Formula 1
Technical data BRM P25 (1959)

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

On August 22, 1955, the new BRM P25 was presented to the press. Lessons had been learned from the mistakes of the past with the V16 P15 Mk1 and its 600 hp. This project was a complete failure. In the end, the complicated car with the complex V16 cylinder engine only competed once in a world championship race. At the 1951 British GP in Silverstone, Reg Parnell crossed the finish line five laps down and was still classified fifth. BRM almost went under with this project and survival was only possible thanks to Alfred Owen's integration of BRM into his company empire (owner of the largest British automotive supplier)

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