Aussie supercar maker, Brabham, is dead

The future of Australia’s only supercar maker, Brabham Automotive, is on shaky ground after the Adelaide-based outfit announced a split with its sole investor Fusion Capital.

Brabham Automotive and Fusion Capital have been partners since 2016 with the collaboration producing track-focused cars like the Brabham BT-62 and BT-63.

Fusion was the “majority shareholder, sole funder, and operator of the Automotive company that bears the famous Brabham name”, meaning its exit leaves the carmaker’s future in limbo.

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Diverging ideas on the strategic direction for Brabham Automotive are cited as the reason for the split, with Fusion Capitol’s chairman Mat Fitch saying the “strategic direction of both groups did not align.”

“My family and I have invested in automotive and manufacturing for over 40 years and we will continue to do so with what we have created in the last six years. Powertrains are evolving and the opportunity to challenge the mainstream OEMs has never been greater. What we have created provides the perfect platform for the future.”

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Fitch’s comments suggest the Brabham BT-62 will continue to be built but will carry a different name moving forward. The Brabham family holds the exclusive rights to the Brabham name which was made famous by three-time Formula 1 champion Sir Jack Brabham.

David Brabham, who is Sir Jack’s son and director of the Brabham Group Limited, said he’s keen for the family name to continue to have a presence in world motorsport.

“While it is regrettable that our relationship with Fusion Capital has come to an end, the collaboration helped further evolve ‘Brabham’ to a new and exciting future,” he said. “With the brand license for Automotive ended, it opens the doors for future business ventures in the motorsport, automotive and heritage sectors.”

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The track-only Brabham BT-62 is built in Adelaide and is powered by a modified 5.4-litre Ford V8. Initial plans to build a road-going version of the BT-62 never materialised meaning it is ineligible for most major racing categories around the world.

It has enjoyed some on-track success in categories with limited regulations, however, and in 2019 it broke the lap record at Mount Panorama with a time of 1:58.679 with Luke Youlden at the wheel.

The BT-62 was also the cover star of Wheels in May 2018 and we’ll admit we’re sad to see the project bite the dust. So raise your glass, tip your hat, and hit play on the video above to hear the BT-62 in action around Bathurst. It's an epic lap.

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The BT-62 was tested in secret at Phillip Island before being officially revealed