1983 Brabham BT52B

Created in short order after an outrageously late change to Formula 1’s aerodynamic regulations, Gordon Murray conjured his most beautiful creation – a contender for the most aesthetically pleasing racing car ever seen. Powered by BMW’s bombastic turbo four-pot, this is the chassis in which Nelson Piquet clinched the 1983 world championship. One of only two BT52Bs built, it was also the car Ayrton Senna tested at Paul Ricard after the completion of the 1983 season. It has never previously been offered for sale.

A clean sweep by Brabham, Kyalami, Johannesburg, October 15

Being the last race of the season there were a number of important things at stake, not least the destination of the 1983 World Drivers’ Championship and next year’s number 1. The real issue lay between Alain Prost (Renault) and Nelson Piquet (Brabham-BMW) with René Arnoux (Ferrari) in with a chance.

From the moment the green light came on Piquet had it all his own way, his start was exemplary and he really gave it all he’d got in the opening laps, pulling out an enormous lead even on the first lap. There was little doubt that you needed to be on Michelin tyres for this race for the dust of the start had barely subsided before the two Brabhams took charge with Tambay unable to match their speed, nor that of Prost in the Renault, de Cesaris (Alfa Romeo) and Lauda (McLaren) who had rocketed through from the sixth row.

From the very start of the race neither Prost nor Amoux were any challenge at all to Nelson Piquet and indeed they barely figured in the race as such, let alone as challengers for the outcome of the World Championship points-scoring game. Arnoux had never figured among the front runners from the start, his Goodyear tyres demoralising him until he gave up when his Ferrari engine overheated, while Prost was taken aback by being passed with ease by Lauda in the McLaren-Porsche and when the unhappy little Frenchman arrived in the pit lane it was not for petrol and tyres, but to retire from the fray with “turbo-charger trouble” to quote the Renault team.

With Prost gone, Piquet had the 1983 World Championship in his grasp, but he could still lose it if the Brabham let him down or he made a mistake, for his retirement would leave Prost ahead on points, even though the Frenchman had long since retired. However, Piquet was more intent on winning the Championship than winning the race, so he eased right off and drove carefully to the finish…

Patrese came home the winner of the South African GP, with de Cesaris in a mature second place, which was another great boost for the Euroracing Alfa Romeo team after his second place in the German GP. The wily Piquet finished third secure in the knowledge that he had won the 1983 World Championship on points rather than race victories, though his domination of the last three races has been unquestionable. HJ

Taken from Motor Sport, November 1983

Brabham BT52

Year 1983
Designer Gordon Murray
Races 15
Wins 4
Poles 2
Fastest laps 1