Brabham BT2

The Brabham BT2 is an open-wheel racing car made by Brabham in 1962.^[1]

After leaving the Cooper stable in 1961, Jack Brabham joined forces with Ron Tauranac to open his own car team. This team was initially called MRD (Motor Racing Developments), but since the sound produced by the pronunciation of the initials was similar to that of a swear word in French, it was decided to change the name to that of its founder. The first car built was the BT2, a single-seater designed to compete in the Formula Junior category.

Produced in 11 units, the BT2 exploited a tubular steel frame in a spaceframe configuration wrapped in a fiberglass body. The engine used was a Ford-Cosworth 109E derived from the Ford Anglia with 103 hp and managed by a four-speed manual gearbox. The braking system consisted of four disc brakes, while the suspensions were double wishbones with coaxial coil springs and stabilizer bar in the front section and wishbones, double link arms, coil springs, and stabilizer bar in the rear.^[2]

Subsequently, in 1963, the BT2 was updated and transformed into the BT6, of which 20 additional examples were built. The Ford-Cosworth 109E engine was boosted to 110 hp (82 kW).^[3]

The BT2 was used in 1962 in the Formula Junior championship by drivers such as Frank Gardner and Jo Schlesser, who achieved excellent results, including the first victory of the English team achieved by Schlesser.^[4]

In 1963, when the BT6 was deployed, the victories began to arrive numerous thanks to the work of Denny Hulme and Jo Schlesser. It was the last season spent by the English team in Formula Junior, as the next car, the BT9, was designed to compete in Formula 3.

• v
• t
• e

Motor Racing Developments

Personnel
Founder	Jack Brabham Ron Tauranac
Noted personnel	Bernie Ecclestone Gordon Murray Herbie Blash Sergio Rinland Colin Seeley Dave Stubbs Charlie Whiting

Drivers
World Champions	Jack Brabham Denny Hulme Nelson Piquet
Former drivers	Other drivers See category

Formula One titles
Drivers' titles	1966 1967 1981 1983
Constructors' titles	1966 1967

Cars
Formula One	BT3 BT7 BT11 BT19 BT20 BT22 BT24 BT26 BT26A BT33 BT34 BT37 BT39 BT42 BT44 BT44B BT45 BT45B BT45C BT46 BT46B BT46C BT47 BT48 BT49 BT49B BT49T BT49C BT49D BT50 BT51 BT52 BT52B BT53 BT54 BT55 BT56 BT58 BT59 BT59Y BT60Y BT60B BT61
Sports cars	BT5 BT8 BT17
Formula Two	BT10 BT16 BT18 BT23 BT23C BT30 BT36 BT38 BT40
USAC/IndyCar	BT12 BT25 BT32
Formula Three	BT9 BT15 BT16A BT18A BT21 BT21B BT21X BT28 BT35C BT38C BT41
Formula Atlantic	BT29 BT35A BT35B BT38B BT40
Formula Junior	BT1 BT2 BT6
F5000/Libre	BT43
Other single-seaters	BT4 BT7A BT11A BT14 BT18B BT21A BT21C BT22 BT23A BT23B BT23D BT23E BT23F BT23G BT30X BT31 BT35X BT36X