Brabham BT62 to make Bathurst debut

THE ADELAIDE-built Brabham BT62 supercar will make its Mount Panorama debut next week as part of the Bathurst 12 Hour.

The 522kW BT62 will perform a number of demonstration laps across the event weekend, and also be on display for the public to get up close and personal.

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While originally developed as a purpose-built track machine, Brabham recently announced customers can option the car to be converted for legal road use.

Tipping the scales at just 972kg, and with a 522kW mid-mounted V8, the BT62 should be one of, if not the, quickest cars at Mount Panorama.

During development of the BT62, Brabham set its sights on a number of lap records around the country. Could Mount Panorama’s 1:59.291 official outright record set by Christopher Mies in an unrestricted Audi R8 GT3 car late last year be threatened?

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Brabham Automotive’s managing director, David Brabham, is a former Bathurst 1000 winner, and is excited to see his family’s name return to The Mountain.

“This iconic track has so much racing history and is held in such high regard all around the world,” he said.

“My father, Sir Jack Brabham, won the Bathurst 100 mile race back in 1960, including being clocked at 157mph down Conrod Straight, so we’ve seen success here over a number generations.”

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The demonstration laps follow the car’s public Australian debut at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival in late 2018. Those that miss the car at the Bathurst 12 Hour, will also have the opportunity to see it in action at the opening round of the Supercars championship, the Adelaide 500 in March.

Brabham Automotive has announced it will take the BT62 to Le Mans, but instead of doing mere demonstration laps, the car will compete in the GTE Pro class for the 2021/22 World Endurance Championship.

The 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour event starts on Thursday, 31 January.