AUSTRALIAN AUTOMAKER UNVEILS STREET-LEGAL SUPERCAR

Brabham Automotive Converts High-Performance Racecar…

Australian high-performance manufacturer Brabham Automotive has announced a road-compliant conversion option for its limited-edition BT62 track car.  While the automaker built the BT62 to be an unrestricted track car with power and performance that surpasses that of a GT car, the marque is responding to customers’ desire for occasional road use.

Each limited-edition, road-compliant car will be put through extensive testing to ensure it has been designed and constructed to meet and achieve all regulatory and legal standards required for use on the open road. For the European market, the conversion process for the BT62 will take place in the UK at a cost £150,000 ($193,070 U.S.), plus the list price of the car.

In addition to regulatory requirements, other specification changes include raising the ride height with a front and rear axle lift kit, increasing the steering lock range, adding air conditioning, fitting door locks and immobilizers, as well as additional high-quality upholstery in the interior. While the objective was to make the car street legal with minimal compromise to its race-bred heritage, despite a weight increase, the car retains the 700bhp power output.

The limited-edition, street-legal version of Brabham Automotive’s BT62 has been modified for road use while retaining its race-bred heritage.

FERRARI HONORS FAMED RACECAR DRIVER MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

Formula 1 Driver Subject of Special Exhibit…

A special exhibit to mark the fiftieth birthday of famed Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher recently opened at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy. The “Michael 50” exhibit pays tribute to Schumacher’s extraordinary career as Formula 1’s most successful racing driver—a career which saw him win seven world championships, five of which were with Ferrari, not to mention 91 wins and 155 podium finishes.

The displays spotlight some of the most important Ferrari single-seaters driven by Schumacher during his 11 years with Scuderia, along with memorabilia and racing gear.  The exhibit was organized in partnership with the Keep Fighting Foundation, which supports road-safety initiatives and other charitable outreach. The foundation was inspired by Schumacher who suffered severe head injuries during a 2013 skiing accident.

Michael Schumacher, Formula 1’s most successful racecar driver in the history of the sport, with seven world championships, is the subject of a special “Michael 50” exhibit at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy.

FOUR WINNERS OFFER REAL-WORLD DRIVING TIPS

Veteran Racers Provide Best Driving Advice…

Stars from worlds of racing and rallying have come together to provide best-driving advice in a series of short videos produced by the British road-safety charity IAM RoadSmart. The four drivers, all ambassadors for IAM RoadSmart, use the videos to promote the road safety message, relying on their years of experience.

In his video segment, Paddy Hopkirk, a legend in the world of rallying with wins at Monte Carlo and Acropolis Rallies in the ’60s and other successful runs, talked about the 20-second rule. His advice: Don’t drive too close to the car in front, especially in bad weather or when visibility is poor. “Leave room to stop between you and the car in front.”

Maria Costello has held the Guinness World Record for the fastest woman to lap a TT course. In her video, Costello focuses on “looking out for other road users—motorcyclists, horse riders, cyclists—being really good about using mirrors and double checking blind spots.”

The third video features Catie Munnings, a trailblazer for women in the world of rallying who became the 2016 FIA Ladies European Rally Champion at the tender age of 18. From her perspective, safe driving is all about looking as far ahead as possible and anticipating what might happen—or be happening—down the road.

Ashley Hall is a disabled veteran turned racecar driver with Team BRIT, which is intent on entering the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hour race as the first all-disabled team. In his video segment, Hall said the key to a correct seating position is to pull the seat forward, lean against the seat back and stretch arms toward the steering wheel, with wrists resting on the steering wheel. For more information and to view the videos, visit www.iamroadsmart.com.