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Technology in race cars (50): Brabham BT55 - The F1 flat-twin

Name: Brabham BT52 1983
Brand: Brabham

Created on December 5, 2024

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Brabham BT55 (1986) - Derek Warwick in racing action

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Brabham BT55 (1986) - Elio de Angelis at his last Grand Prix in Monaco before his fatal accident during testing at Le Castellet

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Brabham BT55 (1986) - Elio de Angelis has found a practical armrest on the flat chassis

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Brabham BT55 (1986) - New radiator arrangement in Monaco: Better traction

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Brabham BT55 (1986) - The transverse gearbox: bottom right the clutch, top left the differential and the final drive

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Brabham BT55 (1986) - The engine was installed at an angle (72 degrees) and did not carry

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Brabham BT55 (1986) - Asymmetrical rear suspension, voluminous transverse gearbox in front of the rear axle, spring-damper units behind the axle

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Summary

The Formula 1 monoposto Brabham BT55 was perhaps the last witness to a technical culture in which a single star engineer could attempt to reinvent the racing car. He could establish a new technical trend that dominated the competition for a while, but he could also fail magnificently...

This article contains the following chapters

Permanent construction site gearbox
Engine problems
First carbon fiber chassis
Flat, flatter at the flattest
Difficult test drives and a poor start to the season
Balance sheet
Epilogue

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The years 1956-1986 were the 30 most creative years in the history of racing technology. This series portrayed the most innovative, pioneering and exotic designs of Formula 1, Indy Cars, sports cars and CanAm, tracing the major lines of development that still have an impact today. In 1983, Nelson Piquet became the first world champion with a turbo engine in the Brabham BT52. The era of the Cosworth engine was coming to an end. The turbo pioneer Renault was narrowly beaten, and by a four-cylinder engine from BMW. The Brabham BT52 was also the first world champion car under the new regulations, which had banned the ground effect.

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