What's the news?
Well, here's a shock - out of the blue, former F1 outfit Brabham has revealed it is returning to build a limited-run, mid-engined, carbon-fibre-constructed supercar that has a singular focus on track driving.
Called the BT62, it was unveiled in London at Australia House, to symbolise the Anglo-Australian heritage of the company's name, which of course comes from three-time world F1 champion Sir Jack Brabham - an Aussie. One of those titles came in a car of his own construction, making him the only man in the history of the sport to achieve such a feat.
The Brabham BT62 will be limited to just 70 units and - to keep the Anglo-Australian theme going - each car will be constructed in a 15,000sq ft facility in Melbourne, while the company's US, European and Middle East offices will be over in the UK.
Named BT in memory of the surnames of both Brabham and co-founder Ron Tauranac, the BT62 is made of carbon fibre and features an aggressive aero pack that is designed to make it as quick on track as it can possible be. The rear wheels are powered by a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 5.4-litre V8 of Brabham's own design, driving through a rear-mounted race-spec transmission, and with the car weighing just 972kg, performance will be ferocious. That's because the V8 churns out 710hp and 667Nm, leading to a stratospheric power-to-weight ratio of 730hp-per-tonne.
Brabham says the BT62 can generate more than 1,200kg of downforce (that's 23 per cent more than the car's own kerb weight), that it has six-piston brake callipers all round grabbing carbon discs and that the tyres fitted to the car will be Michelin racing slicks, so it should be just as fast around the corners as it is zipping along the straights.
Production will be limited to the aforementioned 70 units, which have a base price of £1 million (€1.13m) plus local taxes each, to mark 70 years of the Brabham name. The first 35 cars built will also each mark Sir Jack's 35 F1 victories, with them wearing special liveries to reflect the company's historic racing cars. The green-and-gold car unveiled at the launch, for instance, pays homage to Sir Jack's BT19, in which he won the 1966 French Grand Prix - the year in which he went on to become the only person to win the World Championship in his own vehicle.
First deliveries of the Brabham BT62 are expected later this year and the 70 people who will get hold of an example will join the Brabham driver development programme, to help them get the best from the mid-engined monster, while Brabham Automotive says it has a 'long-term plan in place and a phased product development programme already under way' - with the ultimate goal to see a Brabham race car competing at Le Mans.
Anything else?
Sir Jack's son, David Brabham - himself a multiple Le Mans-winner - is the driving force behind the modern-day Brabham Automotive and the managing director, and he said at the launch of the BT62: "It's with great pride that I honour and continue my father's legacy in revealing the next chapter in the evolving Brabham story. The team we have in place, and the vision it shares, provides a solid platform for Brabham Automotive to execute its long-term business strategy. Our first step to deliver on that strategy is the Brabham BT62, a car truly worthy of carrying the iconic Brabham name.
"I set out 12 years ago to re-establish the iconic Brabham name, determined to see it return to global competition. My father had an incredible determination to succeed and, like him, I've worked tirelessly through this time, drawing on my experience as a racing driver, leader and mentor, never once losing sight of that goal. It's been challenging at times, but what we have achieved is simply staggering. This unveiling makes me feel incredibly proud as the Brabham legacy enters a new era."