MOTORSPORT: Brabham BT63 GT2 another step closer to Le Mans

Brabham Automotive has taken the next big step towards Le Mans by shipping its BT63 GT2 Concept racer to Europe, following a shakedown run by carsales’ Luke Youlden.

The Australian designed, engineered and built race car will compete in France in October before racing in a full sports car competition program in Europe in 2022.

For the final part of its local test program it was given a handful of track laps at Queensland Raceway with the 2017 Bathurst 1000 winner at the helm, before being rolled into a container for the trip to Europe.

Company founder David Brabham has often talked about his Le Mans ambition – in a race won by himself and his brother Geoff – using Brabham Automotive as the foundation now that more road-relevant cars are being admitted to the French sports car classic.

“We are really pleased at how well the BT63 GT2 Concept has come together. The car was immediately within the desired performance envelope. We’re very excited to see what it will do at Paul Ricard next month,” said Brabham Automotive CEO, Dan Marks.

The Brabham BT63 GT2 Concept is a development of the BT62 which Youlden used to crack the track record at Mount Panorama in 2019, but heavier and less powerful – because of GT2 regulations – than the original Brabham comeback car, including the road-going BT62.

Changes over its unrestricted predecessor, the BT62, include more weight and slightly less power from its 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 to meet GT2 power-to-weight regulations.

It has a purpose-designed aero package derived from the BT62R, with the splitter, diffuser and rear wing configured for minimal drag and maximum straight-line speed.  

There’s also a competition-grade steel brake package from Brembo and also carried over from the BT62R is a lightweight chromoly safety cell, carbon-fibre body and adjustable double-wishbone suspension.

The Brabham BT63 GT2 Concept is also considerably cheaper and – unlike the BT62 – will not be built in a road-going version. But even with the slowing from the BT62, Youlden has heavy praise for the new Brabham.

“It was great to be back in a Brabham again,” he said after the QR shakedown. “It’s been a couple of years but it’s one of my favourite cars to drive and the way this BT63 GT2 Concept has come together is a credit to Brabham Automotive and the guys at Pace Innovations, who set up the car for this session.

“We managed to tick a lot of boxes during this program. The brake balance and performance, the aero set-up, the engine performance – everything came together quickly based on good engineering and decision-making.  

“The BT63 is a precision instrument. It’s both exhilarating to drive and predictable – you get great feedback from your inputs and you always get a great response from any changes you make.”

Pictured here with its wing removed for transport, the Brabham BT63 GT2 Concept will make its European race debut at the final round of the 2021 Fanatec GT2 meeting at Circuit Paul Ricard over October 1-3. Details of the team and drivers will be announced soon.