Brabham BT44


The Brabham BT44 was a Formula One racing car designed by Gordon Murray, Brabham's chief designer. An update of the partially successful BT42 of 1973, the BT44 was a simple design with a standard Ford DFV/Hewland gearbox combination, but was very clean aerodynamically. Murray had an eye for clean lines, and the BT44 was particularly graceful. He was also a forward thinker, and tinkered with side skirts and airdams on the car, a precursor to ground effects aerodynamics. Sponsorship came from Martini.
in the all-white Brabham BT44 at the 1974 Race of Champions.
The 1974 season was successful for Brabham. Carlos Reutemann took three wins with the car, partnered by Carlos Pace who was able to string a series of promising results together. Brabham finished at a fighting fifth place in the Constructor's Championship after a closely fought season.
The BT44 was modified for 1975, and Pace won his first and only Grand Prix at his home event in Brazil, while Reutemann won at the Nürburgring. A series of other strong finishes helped Reutemann to finish third in the drivers' championship in 1975, whilst Brabham equalled his feat in the constructors' championship. Whilst the BT44 was a good car, it couldn't match the McLaren M23 or the Ferrari 312T.
The BT44 was replaced by the Alfa Romeo powered BT45 for 1976 which proved to be a serious step back for the team. The BT44Bs were sold to RAM Racing, who ran them for a variety of drivers in the 1976 World Championship, including Loris Kessel, Emilio de Villota, Patrick Nève, Jac Nellemann, Damien Magee, Lella Lombardi and Bob Evans, none of whom had much success.

Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngineTyresDrivers12345678910111213141516PtsWCC
Motor Racing DevelopmentsBT44Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARGBRARSAESPBELMONSWENEDFRAGBRGERAUTITACANUSA355th
Motor Racing DevelopmentsBT44Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Carlos Reutemann771RetRetRetRet12Ret631Ret91355th
Motor Racing DevelopmentsBT44Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Richard RobartsRet1517355th
Motor Racing DevelopmentsBT44Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Rikky von OpelRetRetDNQ99DNQ355th
Motor Racing DevelopmentsBT44Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Carlos Pace912Ret582355th
Goldie Hexagon RacingBT44Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8John WatsonRet47Ret5355th
Martini RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARGBRARSAESPMONBELSWENEDFRAGBRGERAUTITAUSA542nd
Martini RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Carlos Reutemann3823932414Ret1144Ret542nd
Martini RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Carlos PaceRet14Ret38Ret5Ret2RetRetRetRet542nd
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8BRARSAUSWESPBELMONSWEFRAGBRGERAUTNEDITACANUSAJPN0-
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Loris KesselDNQ12RetDNQNC0-
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Emilio de VillotaDNQ0-
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Patrick NèveRet0-
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Jac NellemannDNQ0-
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Damien MageeDNQ0-
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Bob EvansRet0-
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Lella LombardiDNQDNQ120-
RAM RacingBT44BFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8Rolf StommelenDNS0-

Includes 1 point scored using a Brabham BT42.