Brabham BT52

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The Brabham BT52 was a Formula 1 car designed for the Brabham team by South African Gordon Murray for the 1983 F1 season.

After the ground effect cars were banned at the end of the previous season, the FIA mandated that all F1 cars be designed with flat undersides for safety reasons. The previously crucial sidepods were now generating lift rather than suction and so the BT52 had short, angular sidepods to keep lift at a minimum. The car featured a distinctive dart-shaped profile and oversized rear wing in an effort to claw back as much downforce as possible. The monocoque was built from aluminium and carbon fibre composite to keep weight as low as possible. The car was powered by the massively powerful BMW turbocharged engine which produced about 900bhp in qualifying trim, detuned to around 700bhp for the races proper.

The car was easy to drive and Nelson Piquet used it to good effect that season. Fighting with Alain Prost in the Renault and Rene Arnoux of Ferrari, he became the first driver to win the world championship with a turbo engine after winning three races and scoring consistently. Brabham finished third in the constructors' championship.

The BT52 was developed to BT53 spec for the 1984 season. The car was almost identical but featured larger sidepods for improved cooling. Alhough Piquet won twice and scored several podium places, the McLaren MP4/2 was dominant and he could not retain his championship.

The BT52/3 was replaced by the BT54 for 1985.

Motor Racing Developments

Formula One: BT3 | BT7 | BT19 | BT20 | BT23 | BT24 | BT26 | BT33 | BT34 | BT37 | BT39 | BT42 | BT44/B | BT45 | BT46/B/C | BT48 | BT49/C/D | BT50 | BT51 | BT52 | BT53 | BT54 | BT55 | BT56 | BT58 | BT59/Y | BT60 Indianapolis 500/USAC: BT12 | BT25 | BT32 Formula Two: BT10 | BT11/A | BT16 | BT18 | BT23 | BT23C | BT30 | BT36 | BT38 | BT40 | Formula Atlantic: BT23F/G | BT29 | BT35A/B | BT38B | BT40 Formula Three: BT9 | BT15 | BT16A | BT18A | BT21 | BT21B | BT21X | BT28 | BT35C | BT38C | BT41 Formula Junior: BT1 | BT2 | BT6 Other single seaters: BT4 | BT7A | BT14 | BT18B | BT21A | BT21C | BT22 | BT23A | BT23B | BT23D | BT23E | BT30X | BT31 | BT35X | BT36X | BT43 Sportscars: BT5 | BT8A | BT17