Brabham BT48
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Brabham | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Gordon Murray | ||||||||
| Predecessor | BT46C | ||||||||
| Successor | BT49 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque | ||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 1,731 mm (68.1 in) Rear: 1,625 mm (64.0 in) |
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| Wheelbase | 2,743 mm (108.0 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Alfa Romeo, 2,991 cc (182.5 cu in), 60° V12, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland / Alfa Romeo 5/6-speed manual | ||||||||
| Fuel | Agip | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Parmalat Racing Brabham | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 5. Niki Lauda6.  Nelson Piquet
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| Debut | 1979 Argentine Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Brabham BT48 was a Formula One racing car designed by Gordon Murray and raced by the Brabham team. The car, powered by a 12-cylinder Alfa Romeo engine, competed in the 1979 Formula One season. The intended plan was to run the BT47 but the FIA outlawed it because it had a Chaparral 2J-type box rear end with twin variable geometry fans on the rear to maximize ground effect, so Murray designed the BT48 instead.
The BT48 made its debut at the 1979 Argentine Grand Prix with Niki Lauda driving. Teammate Nelson Piquet qualified the older Brabham BT46 in 20th place. Lauda qualified the BT46 in 23rd place but drove the BT48 in the race when he retired with fuel system failure. Piquet was involved in a first lap accident and did not take the restart.
At Brazil, Brabham had another BT48 ready for Piquet. The Austrian qualified 12th and the Brazilian 22nd. Lauda retired with a broken gearbox and the Brazilian retired at his home race with an accident. At the South African Grand Prix, Lauda qualified fourth and Piquet 12th. The Austrian finished sixth and the Brazilian seventh. At the United States Grand Prix West, Lauda qualified 11th and Piquet 12th, The Austrian retired when Patrick Tambay's McLaren hit him and the Brazilian finished eighth.
At the Spanish Grand Prix Lauda qualified sixth and Piquet seventh. The Austrian retired with a water leak and the Brazilian retired with broken injection. At Belgium, Piquet qualified third and Lauda 13th, but both retired with engine failure. The Monaco Grand Prix saw Lauda qualify fourth and Piquet 18th. The Austrian retired with an accident, and the Brazilian retired with transmission failure. At France, Piquet qualified fourth and Lauda sixth. The Brazilian retired with an accident and the Austrian retired when he spun. At the British Grand Prix, Piquet qualified third and Lauda fifth. The Brazilian retired when he spun and the Austrian retired when his brakes failed. At Germany, Piquet qualified fourth and Lauda seventh, but both retired with engine failure. The Austrian Grand Prix saw Lauda qualify fourth and Piquet seventh, but both retired with engine failure, disappointing the Austrian fans at Lauda's home race.
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