Famed motorsport family exits Australian supercar partnership

This article originally appeared on Motoringnz.com

Adelaide-based supercar builder Brabham Automotive will no longer be able to use the ‘Brabham’ name, following a split with the late Jack Brabham’s family, creating uncertainties about the future of its track-only supercars, one of which competes in New Zealand.

The association between the two delivered the BT62, a two-seater mid-engined high-performance track-only car, which was unveiled in 2016, introduced two years later and is built in Adelaide, South Australia.

A statement has come from Fusion Capital – which operated under the name of Brabham Automotive Holdings Pty Ltd – and the Brabham family (operating as Brabham Group Limited) who hold the rights to use the famous name.

It says: “Brabham Group Limited (BGL) and Fusion Capital, the majority shareholder, sole funder, and operator of the Automotive company that bears the famous Brabham name, announce that after six years of collaboration, the arrangement has now come to an end.

“The decision to end the relationship was made after careful consideration and what was in the best interests of all parties and the Brand.

“The venture between the two companies enabled the group to design, build and sell high performance Brabham vehicles on a worldwide exclusive licence.”

Brabham Group Limited director David Brabham – son of Sir Jack and a noted racer in his own right, with victories including the 1997 Bathurst 1000 and the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans – said his ambition for his family’s name is for a greater presence in motorsport and heritage racing.

“While it is regrettable that our relationship with Fusion Capital has come to an end, the collaboration helped further evolve ‘Brabham’ to a new and exciting future.

“With the brand licence for Automotive ended, it opens the doors for future business ventures in the Motorsport, Automotive and Heritage sectors. I would personally like to thank everyone who contributed and supported to this project over the years.”

Mat Fitch, chairman of Fusion Capital, said ultimately the strategic direction of both groups did not align.

“That happens. My family and I have invested in automotive and manufacturing for over 40 years and we will continue to do so with what we have created in the last six years,” said Fitch.

“Powertrains are evolving and the opportunity to challenge the mainstream OEMs has never been greater. What we have created provides the perfect platform for the future.”

Some Australian media have interpreted that comment as a sign the maker was keen on developing an electric performance model of the same ilk.

The BT62 is powered by a modified Ford 5.4-litre V8 engine, creating 515kW and 667Nm, and fitted with bespoke body panels.

The stated intention at release was to build 70 to celebrate the 70 years since Sir Jack launched his racing career in Australia in 1948. The car then was priced at $2.25 million.

It has been ineligible for major global racing series because there is no equivalent road-going version, but has nonetheless still been able to race in GT series, including in New Zealand, where that is not a requirement. A detuned edition for GT2, called the BT63, has also raced.

In New Zealand’s South Island Endurance Series, Dwayne Carter and Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen raced a BT62 at Christchurch’s Ruapuna circuit, in a three-hour endurance race last August. A rear wheel came off on the second lap. It returned to the track over 30 laps down an hour into the race, retiring before van Gisbergen could even turn a lap.

The Drive website reminded that during a demonstration at the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2019, a BT62 driven by former Bathurst 1000 winner Luke Youlden – lapped the Mount Panorama Circuit in one minute and 58.694 seconds, almost five seconds quicker than the Supercars qualifying record.