How F1's greatest sound has returned to the track

The first of three new BRM V16s is bringing the greatest-sounding engine to a new audience – and back to the race track - at the Goodwood Revival this weekend. Here is the story of the ambitious 1950 Formula 1 project's resurrection for historic competition

Kevin Turner Sep 17, 2022, 9:14 AM

Upd: Sep 17, 2022, 5:54 PM

Engineering

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“We were approached by the Owen family because John remembered as a lad the three BRM V16s on the grid at Goodwood,” says ace historic preparer and former BRM mechanic Rick Hall. “No one was running the original ones because they were very tired, very old and had not had a lot of money spent on them for many years. His dream was to hear three V16s at Goodwood and race.”

The final part of that dream should become a reality this weekend when Hall’s son Rob contests the Goodwood Trophy for grand prix and Voiturette racers from either side of the Second World War in BRM V16 chassis IV, the first of three new cars. It will be the first race for a car only completed last year, but the idea has been to stay as close as possible to the originals and show what the much-maligned but also romantically remembered machine can really do.

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Author Kevin Turner

Kevin Turner is Autosport’s Chief Editor. While studying History at the University of York, Kevin began covering UK club events as a freelance reporter for Autosport and Motorsport News. He joined the Autosport staff as Editorial Assistant on the magazine in 2006, winning what is now known as the Motorsport UK Young Journalist of the Year Award. He became National Editor in 2008 and over the next few seasons covered a range of international events, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as the British Touring Car Championship and British GT. Kevin became Features Editor before switching to edit Motorsport News in 2014.

He returned to Autosport in 2016 to become editor of the magazine, a dream job that is still part of his role.

He became Chief Editor in 2020, helping to plan content for autosport.com and Autosport’s podcast as well as seeing the magazine through the coronavirus pandemic. Kevin also led work on the special publication celebrating 70 years of Autosport and has been a judge on the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award, formerly known as the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, since 2008. He lives in Warboys with his wife and two children.