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How pragmatic principles made Tauranac a design legend

Jack Brabham's 1966 world championship campaign in his eponymous car was also a defining moment in the career of designer Ron Tauranac, who would apply the same ethos to his ultra-successful production racing car business, Ralt

Gary Watkins Jul 23, 2020, 3:29 PM

When David Brabham revived the marque that carries the name of his father, Sir Jack, he knew it was important to honour the other half of the double act that drove Brabham to success in Formula 1 and beyond in the 1960s. That's why his track-day machine launched in 2018 maintains the BT prefix to its type number. He rightly recognised the contribution of Ron Tauranac, who died last week at the age of 95.

"It was vital to retain the BT on the BT62 because without Ron, dad would never have been so successful and the name wouldn't be what it is today," says Brabham.

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Author Gary Watkins

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.