Brabham BT58

Brabham BT58

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Brabham
Designer(s)	John Baldwin Sergio Rinland
Predecessor	BT56
Successor	BT59/Y
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis	Carbon fibre and Kevlar monocoque
Engine	Judd EV, 3,496 cc (213.3 cu in), 76° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Brabham / Hewland 6-speed manual
Fuel	Elf
Tyres	Pirelli
Competition history
Notable entrants	Motor Racing Developments
Notable drivers	7. Martin Brundle 8. Stefano Modena 7. Gregor Foitek
Debut	1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 18 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Brabham BT58 was a Formula One racing car designed by John Baldwin and Sergio Rinland for the Brabham team which raced in the 1989 season. The teams cars were driven by Italian Stefano Modena and the 1988 World Sportscar Champion, the returning Martin Brundle. It made its debut at the 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix and continued until the first two races of 1990. The best result achieved was a third place at the 1989 Monaco Grand Prix driven by Modena. The car was powered by the Judd V8 engine and ran on Pirelli tyres.

1989

After missing the entire 1988 season, the first time since 1961 that the Brabham name wasn't on the F1 grid as a constructor, the team was forced into pre-qualifying for 1989, largely thanks to the increased entry to Formula One that year in light of the new regulations that banned the powerful, but expensive, turbocharged engines. Brabham, making a welcome return to the F1 paddock, proved competitive with the Judd powered BT58, with Modena never failing to pre-qualify, while car problems saw Brundle only failing to do so twice (Canada and France). Both Brundle and Modena proved very competitive at the Monaco Grand Prix, running behind the all-conquering McLaren-Honda's of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Brundle was running a fine 3rd late in the race when he was forced to pit to replace a dead battery, ultimately finishing 6th. It was Modena who benefited from Brundle's misfortune as he would finish 3rd behind the McLarens. The points scored at Monaco meant that the team 'graduated' from pre-qualifying for the 2nd half of the season.

Part of the BT58's initial advantage was its Pirelli qualifying tyres, although like other teams using the Italian rubber, the race tyres were not of the same quality. However, during the last half of the season as Formula One moved to faster circuits such as Silverstone, Hockenheim and Monza, the BT58's lack of straight line speed, and Pirelli's less than competitive race tyres, saw that results were harder to come by, though Brundle did defy the odds by finishing 6th at Monza after Modena was excluded during qualifying when his car weighed in under the legal limit. After scoring 5 points in Monaco, the team would only score another 3 for the rest of the season, with Brundle finishing 6th in the Italian Grand Prix, and 5th in Japan.

1990

The BT58 was used for the first two races of the 1990 season, with Modena finishing 5th in the seasons opening race in Phoenix. The BT58 was replaced by the Brabham BT59 from the third race of the year in San Marino.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

* All points scored with the BT58

References

v t e Motor Racing Developments Founders Jack Brabham Ron Tauranac Personnel Bernie Ecclestone Gordon Murray Herbie Blash Charlie Whiting World Champions Jack Brabham Denny Hulme Nelson Piquet Cars: Formula One BT3 BT7 BT11 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 BT60Y/B Indianapolis 500/USAC BT12 BT25 BT32 Formula Two BT10 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 BT11A BT14 BT18B BT21A BT21C BT22 BT23A BT23B BT23D BT23E BT30X BT31 BT35X BT36X BT43 Sportscars BT5 BT8A BT17