Brabham BT26
A BT26 in Tasman Series configuration
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | Motor Racing Developments | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Ron Tauranac | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Brabham BT24 | ||||||||
| Successor | Brabham BT33 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Fibreglass body on tubular steel spaceframe with stressed skin sections | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbones, twin radius arms, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar | ||||||||
| Engine |
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| Transmission | Hewland DG 300, 5-speed manual, ZF differential | ||||||||
| Fuel | Esso | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear, Dunlop | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Brabham Racing Organisation | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |
 Jack Brabham Jochen Rindt Jacky Ickx
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| Debut | 1968 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||
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The Repco Brabham BT26 was a Formula One racing car design. A development of the previous BT24, its Repco engines were unreliable, but following a switch to Cosworth DFV engines it scored two World Championship Grand Prix wins and finished runner up in the 1969 World Constructors' Championship.
Designed by Ron Tauranac, the BT26 was the final incarnation of his spaceframe F1 car, and one of the last F1 cars to be raced of such construction - forthcoming rule changes regarding fuel storage would outlaw spaceframe chassis. Tauranac had actually combined the spaceframe with stressed aluminium panels to create a semi-monocoque, enabling him to reduce the size of the spaceframe tubing and so lighten the chassis.
The other main difference between the BT24 and the BT26 was a more powerful Repco 860 series engine, but it was also less reliable; the 1968 season was plagued by a string of retirements and Jochen Rindt left to join Lotus. In 1969 the Repco engines were replaced with Cosworth DFV engines; these variants are designated BT26A.
In 1968 Rindt and Brabham between them managed only two finishes. 1969 saw an improvement; new recruit Jacky Ickx scored two wins and finished runner-up in the Driver's World Championship, and Brabham-Ford in the same position in the Constructor's Championship, with assistance from Piers Courage in a third car entered by Frank Williams' racing team.
With the Brabham team switching to the new BT33 in 1970, the BT26As were campaigned sporadically by privateer entries, with Peter de Klerk recording the best result, 11th (and last) at the South African Grand Prix. In 1971 Jackie Pretorius retired it from its final race in the South African Grand Prix.
In non-Championship events, Brabham won the 1969 BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone and Ickx won the 1969 Oulton Park International Gold Cup. de Klerk and Pretorius won three of the South African non-Championship races in 1970 and 1971.
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