Gorgeous Brabham BT44

The Brabham BT44 was a Formula One racing car designed by Gordon Murray for the 1974 F1 season, was modified into BT44B for the 1975 season and was used by privateer RAM Racing in 1976. Picture-above: Carlos Reutemann in the Martini-livered BT44B in 1975.

The BT44 was a relative simple design, with a now standard Ford DFV/Hewland gearbox combination, that was very efficient aerodynamically. Murray had an eye for clean lines, and the BT44 was particularly graceful. Gordon Murray was also a forward thinker and experimented with side skirts on the car, a precursor to ground effect aerodynamics.

The 1974 season was successful for Brabham. Carlos Reutemann took three wins with the car, while his team mate Carlos Pace showed great potential. The BT44 was modified for 1975, and Pace won his first and only Grand Prix in Brazil, while Reutemann won at the Nürburgring.

A series of other strong finishes, five more podiums, helped Reutemann to third in the drivers’ championship in 1975, whilst Brabham bettered his feat in the constructors championship by finishing second. But what an elegant race car, see picture below, Reutemann on his way to fourth at Zandvoort.