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Technology in race cars (36): Brabham BT44 - trapeze artist

Name: Brabham BT44 1974
Brand: Brabham

Created on October 19, 2023

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv: Gerhard Schütz

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv: Gerhard Schütz

Brabham BT44 (1974) - at the historic support race for the GP USA in Austin (TX) 2012

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - BT 44 with Carlos Pace on the road to victory in the 1974 Brazilian GP

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - BT42 1973, basis for the BT44 1974

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Studies. Here with radiators on the side of the chassis

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Sketches for the BT42. Chassis cross-section and radiator fins

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Chassis contours follow the engine contours

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Hewland gearbox converted to dry sump lubrication by Murray

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Compact rear (here on the BT42)

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - wishbones on the engine, trailing arms on the chassis

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Progressive front suspension with small additional arm at the bottom of the strut

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Split front radiator

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - In contrast to its successor, the BT44, the BT42 had fins above the radiators

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Where today hundreds of employees develop a Formula 1 car, in 1974 Brabham had 18, in words eighteen! Murray on the left, Reutemann in the car

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In comparison: The staff at Mercedes today

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Reutemann on victory drive in Argentina 1974, failure shortly before the end (not because of the kinked intake hood, but due to lack of fuel)

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Clear edge on the BT44 1974

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - First approaches for the ground effect V- skirt to generate negative pressure on the underbody

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Secret Lothario BT44B

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Brabham BT44 (1974) - Murray (left) with Carlos Pace in the car

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Summary

The characteristic cross-section of the chassis makes the Brabham BT44 instantly recognizable. Thanks to the unusually wide underbody, it generated a lot of downforce without sacrificing top speed. But while the designer was convinced by his car, the team boss took a different direction. This episode of the series "Technology in the racing car" is dedicated to the Brabham BT44

This article contains the following chapters

The 1973-1975 races
New with Alfa Romeo

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The years 1958-1978 were the two most creative decades in the history of racing technology. This series portrays the most advanced, pioneering and exotic designs of Formula 1, Indy Cars, sports cars and Can-Am, tracing the major lines of development that still have an impact today. This episode is dedicated to the promising Brabham BT44, which was replaced before it could show its full potential. In 1971, a certain Bernie Ecclestone bought the Brabham team. The traditional racing team had been founded in 1962 by three-time world champion Jack Brabham. At the end of 1972, the new owner dismissed the entire technical office - with the exception of one, 26-year-old South African Gordon Murray - and entrusted him with the development of a completely new car. This was the BT42, which, with a few modifications, also formed the basis for the BT44. Like Colin Chapman (Lotus), Mauro Forghieri (Ferrari), Derek Gardner (Tyrrell), Eric Broadley (Lola) and Jim Hall (Chaparral), Gordon Murray was one of the fascinating engineers of the sixties and seventies who had the urge to constantly reinvent the racing car.

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