Brabham BT52

Brabham BT52
Brabham BT52B
A Brabham BT52 at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorBrabham
Designer(s)Gordon Murray (Technical Director)
David North (Chief Designer)
Paul Rosche (Chief Engine Designer (BMW))
PredecessorBT50
SuccessorBT53
Technical specifications[1][2] [3]
ChassisCarbon fibre monocoque with rear subframe
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, push-rod operated coil springs over dampers
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, push-rod operated coil springs over dampers
Axle trackBT52:
Front: 1,778 mm (70.0 in)
Rear: 1,657 mm (65.2 in)
BT52B:
Front: 1,753 mm (69.0 in)
Rear: 1,651 mm (65.0 in)
WheelbaseBT52: 2,860 mm (113 in)
BT52B: 2,845 mm (112.0 in)
EngineBMW M12/13, 1,499 cc (91.5 cu in), Straight 4, turbo, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionBrabham/Hewland 5/6-speed manual Weismann Differential
Weight540 kg (1,190 lb)
FuelCastrol
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsFila Sport Brabham BMW
Notable drivers5. Brazil Nelson Piquet
6. Italy Riccardo Patrese
Debut1983 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
15424
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships1 (1983, Nelson Piquet)

The Brabham BT52 was a Formula One car designed for the Brabham team by longtime Brabham designer Gordon Murray for the 1983 season. The car ran on Michelin tyres and was powered by the BMW M12/13 four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which in 1983 produced a maximum power of approximately 1,280 bhp (950 kW) in qualifying trim, detuned to around 850 bhp (630 kW) for the proper races. Its drivers were 1981 World Champion Nelson Piquet and Riccardo Patrese.[4]

  1. ^ "STATS F1 • Brabham BT52". Statsf1.com. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  2. ^ "STATS F1 • Brabham BT52B". Statsf1.com. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  3. ^ "Brabham F1 Racecars Weismann Transaxles • Brabham BT52B". weismann.net. Archived from the original on 7 April 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  4. ^ Boeriu, Horatiu (24 January 2017). "Watch BMW Build The Most Powerful F1 Engine Ever - BT52 1,280 horsepower". BMW Blog. Retrieved 13 December 2019.