Formula 1's ultimate one-hit wonder
It's arguably grand prix racing's most famous one-hit wonder, but there was a lot more to the Brabham fan car than met the eye
It suddenly dawned on Brabham as the 1978 Formula 1 season was beginning that it had a problem. No one had quite cottoned on to what Lotus had found with the previous season's type 78, but the lightbulb came on with the appearance of the 79 in winter testing.
There began the thought process in the fertile mind of Gordon Murray that spawned one of the most controversial grand prix cars ever in the Brabham BT46B, the fan car of one-race, one-victory fame.
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Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
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