BMW F1 Car BT52 1280 HP - Engine Assembly (HOW IT'S MADE - CAR FACTORY)

BMW F1 Car BT52 1280 HP - Engine Assembly (CAR FACTORY)

The history of Formula One is replete with compelling stories. A number of particularly spectacular episodes will be recalled on Sunday, 21 June 2015, as part of the Austrian Grand Prix world championship event. Eight historic vehicles from motor sport's crowning discipline will be lining up for the Legends Parade at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg with former F1 racing drivers at the wheel – including a reunion with three-times Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet. In 1983 the Brazilian became the first driver in the history of Formula One to win the world championship title in a racing car powered by a turbo engine: the Brabham BMW BT52. At the Legends Parade in Spielberg, Piquet will once again be behind the wheel of his championship-winning car, which today belongs to the BMW Group Classic collection.

The engine that imbued the Brabham BMW BT52 with its legendary status was developed by BMW Motorsport GmbH under the guidance of its then Technical Director, Paul Rosche. His team furnished the British Brabham racing team with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit featuring 16 valves, a turbocharger and – in a first for Formula One – Digital Motor Electronics. This mix made for an awesome power potential, with experts estimating its maximum output at up to 1,400 hp. Rosche's response to such speculation was typically understated: "We don't know for sure as the dyno didn't go beyond 1,280 hp."

The BMW turbo engine was first deployed in a Formula One race at the start of the 1982 season; 630 days later Nelson Piquet drove the Brabham BMW BT52 to world championship victory. His title win marked the close of an unusually exhilarating season in which Piquet started from pole just once but clocked the fastest race lap four times and won three out of 15 races. He made eight podium appearances, collecting 59 world championship points over the season to take the 1983 Drivers' World Championship title.

The race car Piquet piloted along the road to victory continues to impress to this day with its 1980s-style arrow-shaped design and its extraordinary engine power. It is thanks to the BMW Group Classic team responsible for historic motor sport that the Brabham BMW BT52 is once again demonstrating its prowess on the race track. In 2013, exactly 30 years after Nelson Piquet's triumph, the racer was roused from its automotive retirement and ushered back onto the race track. Numerous mechanics who were involved in its development more than three decades ago were recruited for its extensive restoration – among them Paul Rosche. The upshot was experienced for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2013. The Brabham BMW BT52's involvement in the Legends Parade in Austria will be its third appearance since its revival.

[turmadocesaocarvalhos]

Nelson Piquet loves this car, here in Brazil Piquet is always remember about the tão championschip that Win with this cara.🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[ShmuelWeintraub]

This series of engine (used in the Brabham BT52 in 1983 season) did not produce 1280 HP. During this season it raced with approx 650bhp and could be raised to about 800bhp for qualifying.

The "mesmerizing" power numbers (1400 bhp+) BMW managed to extract from later versions of this engine did not arrive until 1986, when running 5 bar boost (or maybe a little higher). Over the racing life of the engine (1982-1987: Boost pressure was severely curtailed for the 1988 season), BMW managed to add about 150hp per year on average to peak power output, which is very impressive. Having said that, the power in race trim did not follow the same curve. The 1982 engine in race trim was capable of about 600bhp. By the end of 1986 (unregulated boost still allowed) the race trim engines were thought to be developing 850-900bhp.

Honourable mention also goes to Renault around this time. Their 1500cc V6 did not produce more power than their BMW competition, but they were still able to extract some 1300bhp from their engine in qualifying trim (I recall watching the Lotus mechanics simply bolting what appeared to be a a blanking plate onto the wastegate connection in 1986... allowing the engine in Senna's car to build as much manifold pressure as the turbos could provide...)

The 4 bar boost limit for 1987 and 2.5 bar boost limit for 1988 effectively ended the "power race" turbo era in Formula 1... although engineers still worked very hard to find ways to force more air through the non-turbo engines in use from 1989 onwards of course.

[hardwaylearner]

80+ psi of boost, almost 99% pure Toluene in the fuel tank, and no cover or safety gear to speak of. What a machine

[rexhorrell]

N. Piquet. Driving a car with almost no down force and a 1000ish bph engine on the limit. Fearless. Under appreciated.

[Kimi]

I just love the sound of this BMW engine. And the Brabham BT52 is one my absolute favorite F1 cars

[antonmothes]

6:54 the men himself.. Paul Rosche who engineered this engine .. great person

[ramosel]

The old picture of the factory crew with Paul Rosche is a gem. Friend and current director of F1 trackside support for Cozzy is in that picture. I'll send him your link.

[NormanStansfield]

Gorgeous Gordon Murray designed car and it is so small. I thought there was a story where Marc Surer (driving in the video) asked Paul Rosche back in the day how much BHP. The BMW dyno only went up to 1200 bhp, I think. Paul shrugged and said he thought 1400 bhp. Arrows later used them as customer engines badged as Megatron and one of the drivers said you could spin the tires on the straight away in 6th gear.

Don't forget that this Gordon Murray-Paul Rosche-BMW relationship later created the McLaren F1 road car with a BMW V-12. The car won LeMans at it's first attempt. Beating prototype full race cars! Teams could run a full series of European races without a rebuild! RIP Paul.

[bmwracer]

An incredible engine (designed by Paul Rosche) mounted to a beautiful F1 car... Designed by the legendary Gordon Murray.

[shagirani]

This is one of my most favorite videos on youtube....
The fact that is the same block of a bmw family sedan makes it special...

[ericp.]

In the workshop parking lot is a bulldozer with it's hood up and it's turbo missing.

[josedacunhafilho]

I saw this car and the BT53 race four times, and twice it won. The other two the engine broke down. It sounded as if it was about to explode lap after lap, and the contrast between the brutal noise from the engine with the graceful lines of the car made a combination almost like Jekyll & Hyde. No doubt one of the most beautiful F1 cars in history, along with the Eagle Mk1.
Can anyone tell me how many Brabham BMW BT52 are still in existence today? As a footnote, the innitial livery with the blue nose for me, personally, was the most beautiful version of all. Thank you for posting this.

[superfast]

Engine was a powerhouse. One of the greatest F1 cars of all time!

[Slash]

The car is beautiful, like a minimalist view of the future, much better than the modern monstrosities

[willbennett]

Not a torque wrench in sight purely feel

[mm]

GEAR DRIVEN VALVETRAIN!! My little M10 needs that.

[aghowrath]

THE GENIUS ROSCHE HAD TO MAKE THE VIDEO COMPLETE. GERMAN INNOVATION, PRECISION AND ENGINEERING PROWESS REMAINS UNRIVALLED

[cel-o-comento]

COULD ANYONE TELL IF ONE OF THOSE BMW CLASSIC MECHANICS IS A ONE SO CALLED REINER DIPPELHOFFER? I THINK I MET HIM AND SOME OTHERS AT THE MEXICAN GP 1986...

[carlosalbertosantos]

Nelson piquet o melhor desenvolvedor de carros que ja vi

[fhhfgj]

This was the golden era of F1, late 70's to mid 80's.