Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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Constructor | Brabham | ||||||||
Designer(s) |
John Baldwin Sergio Rinland |
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Predecessor | BT56 | ||||||||
Successor | BT59 | ||||||||
Technical specifications | |||||||||
Chassis | Carbon fibre and Kevlar monocoque | ||||||||
Axle track | Front: 1,803 mm (71.0 in) Rear: 1,676 mm (66.0 in) |
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Wheelbase | 2,794 mm (110.0 in) | ||||||||
Engine | Judd EV, 3,496 cc (213.3 cu in), 76° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
Transmission | Brabham / Hewland 6-speed manual | ||||||||
Fuel | Elf | ||||||||
Tyres | Pirelli | ||||||||
Competition history | |||||||||
Notable entrants | Motor Racing Developments | ||||||||
Notable drivers | 7. Martin Brundle 8. Stefano Modena 7. Gregor Foitek |
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Debut | 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
Drivers' Championships | 0 |
The Brabham BT58 was a Formula One racing car designed by John Baldwin and Sergio Rinland for the Brabham team which raced in the 1989 season. The teams cars were driven by Italian Stefano Modena and the 1988 World Sportscar Champion, the returning Martin Brundle. It made its debut at the 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix and continued until the first two races of 1990. The best result achieved was a third place at the 1989 Monaco Grand Prix driven by Modena. The car was powered by the Judd V8 engine and ran on Pirelli tyres.
After missing the entire 1988 season, the first time since 1961 that the Brabham name wasn't on the F1 grid as a constructor, the team was forced into pre-qualifying for 1989, largely thanks to the increased entry to Formula One that year in light of the new regulations that banned the powerful, but expensive, turbocharged engines. Brabham, making a welcome return to the F1 paddock, proved competitive with the Judd powered BT58, with Modena never failing to pre-qualify, while car problems saw Brundle only failing to do so twice (Canada and France). Both Brundle and Modena proved very competitive at the Monaco Grand Prix, running behind the all-conquering McLaren-Honda's of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Brundle was running a fine 3rd late in the race when he was forced to pit to replace a dead battery, ultimately finishing 6th (unlike most other cars in the field, the BT58 had its battery under the driver's seat and not behind the driver's head meaning Brundle had to vacate the car in the pits in order for the team to replace it). It was Modena who benefited from Brundle's misfortune as he would finish 3rd behind the McLarens. The points scored at Monaco meant that the team 'graduated' from pre-qualifying for the 2nd half of the season.