The Brabham BT7 (also known as Repco Brabham BT7) is a
Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...
racing car. It was raced by the
Brabham Racing Organisation
Brabham () is the common name for Motor Racing Developments Ltd., a British racing car manufacturer and Formula One racing team. Founded in 1960 by Australian driver Jack Brabham and British-Australian designer Ron Tauranac, the team won four ...
and several privateers from
1963
Events January
* January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...
to
1966. A development of its predecessor, the
Brabham BT3
The Brabham BT3 is a Formula One racing car. It was the first Formula One design to be produced by Motor Racing Developments for the Brabham Racing Organisation, and debuted at the 1962 German Grand Prix. The Brabham BT3 was the vehicle with wh ...
, the car proved to be competitive during
1963
Events January
* January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...
and
1964
Events January
* January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved.
* January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...
, taking
Dan Gurney
Daniel Sexton Gurney (April 13, 1931 – January 14, 2018) was an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner who reached racing's highest levels starting in 1958. Gurney won races in the Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR, Can-Am, ...
to two victories. Technical issues prevented the BT7 from scoring better results. The car was equipped with a more reliable
Hewland
Hewland is a British engineering company, founded in 1957 by Mike Hewland, which specialises in racing-car gearboxes. Hewland currently employ 130 people at their Maidenhead facility and have diversified into a variety of markets being particul ...
gearbox compared to the Colotti-Francis in the BT3.
Malcolm Sayer
Malcolm Sayer (21 May 1916 – 22 April 1970) was an aircraft engineer during wartime and later automotive aerodynamist. His most notable aerodynamic work being responsible for the engineering body development of the E-Type Jaguar and early st ...
from
Jaguar Cars was consulted to give input for the revised chassis. The slick aerodynamics proved particularly strong at high speed circuits such as
Monza or
Spa. Its successor, the BT11, was a slightly altered BT7 aimed for customers such as
Rob Walker or
Jo Siffert
Joseph Siffert (; 7 July 1936 – 24 October 1971) was a Swiss racing driver.
Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of a dairy owner. He initially made his name in racing ...
.
It was in this car that
Denny Hulme
Denis Clive Hulme (18 June 1936 – 4 October 1992), commonly known as Denny Hulme, was a New Zealand racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship for the Brabham team. Between his debut at Monaco in 1965 and his f ...
debuted in Grand Prix racing. He would later win the
1967 World Driver's Championship.
The BT7 was also raced in
Formula 2
Formula Two (F2 or Formula 2) is a type of open-wheel formula racing category first codified in 1948. It was replaced in 1985 by Formula 3000, but revived by the FIA from 2009–2012 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship. The name re ...
by
Hubert Hahne
Hubert Hahne (28 March 1935 – 24 April 2019) was a racing driver from Germany. He was the older brother of Armin Hahne, as well as the uncle of Jörg van Ommen.
Career
He participated in five Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, two of ...
among others using a 2-litre BMW Neue Klasse engine (''pictured'').
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(
key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in ''italics'' indicate fastest laps)
Points were awarded on a 9–6–4–3–2–1 basis for the first six positions at each round with only the best six (1963-1965) or five (1966) round results retained. Only the best placed car from each manufacturer at each round was eligible to score points. Numbers in parentheses are total points scored; numbers not in parentheses are points counted towards the championship
In 1963, the 28 points counting towards the championship were scored using the BT7; the two dropped points were scored using a
BT3
In 1964, 25 points were scored using the BT7; the remaining 5 points were scored using a
BT11
In 1965, all points were scored using a
BT11
References
{{F1 cars 1966
Brabham BT07