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Brabham BT42

Brabham BT42 (2011)
Category	Formula One
Designer	Gordon Murray
Predecessor	Brabham BT37
Successor	Brabham BT44
Technical specifications
Chassis	Triangular section monocoque
Suspension (front)	Rising rate pullrod actuated
Suspension (rear)	Multi-link
Wheelbase	2388mm
Engine	Cosworth DFV 3.000cc
Transmission	Hewland 5-Speed + Reverse
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Motor Racing Developments
Notable drivers	Carlos Reutemann Wilson Fittipaldi Helmuth Koinigg Lella Lombardi Rolf Stommelen John Watson Andrea de Adamich
Debut	1973 Spanish Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 27 0 2 0 0

The Brabham BT42 was a Formula One racing car used by Brabham for the 1973 Formula One season. This car marked the team's first design entirely by Gordon Murray after the departure of team co-founder and previous designer Ron Tauranac.

Development

Gordon Murray became chief designer after being offered the role by new team boss Bernie Ecclestone. The car proposed a triangular section alluminium monocoque, with the by then ubiquitous Cosworth DFV as a fully stressed member paired with a Hewland gearbox.

The car featured rising rate pullrod actuated front suspension and a multilink rear suspension. It was fitted with Goodyear tyres.

The most striking part of the car being the angular yet simple bodywork design which Murray himself refers to as "triangular". As well as the return of the BT34's front mounted double radiators nick-named "Lobster Claw". Aditionally, the downward sloping sidepods gave the car an even more unique look, yet served to fit one fuel cell underneath each side. Allowing to mount a smaller, triangular main fuel cell behind the driver, moving the center of gravity towards the rear, improving responsiveness.

The car was a marked improvement from the previous years' BT37 with Carlos Reutemann scoring best place results in France and The United States. The BT42 became the base upon which the successful Brabham BT44 would be designed.

Complete Formula One results

Entrant	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
1973		ARG	BRA	RSA	SPA	BEL	MON	SWE	FRA	GBR	NED	GER	AUS	ITA	CAN	USA
Motor Racing Developments Ltd.	Reutemann				Ret	Ret	Ret	4th	3rd	6th	Ret	Ret	4th	6th	8th	3rd
	Fittipaldi				10th	Ret	11th	Ret	16th	Ret	Ret	5th	Ret	Ret	11th	17th
Ceramica Pagnossin MRD	de Adamich									Ret
	Stommelen											11th	Ret	12th	12th
	Watson															Ret
1974		ARG	BRA	RSA	SPA	BEL	MON	SWE	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	AUS	ITA	CAN	USA
John Goldie Racing with Hexagon	Watson	12th	Ret	Ret	11th	11th	6th	11th	7th	16th	11th
	Pace									DNQ
Scuderia Finotto	Facetti													DNQ
	Koinigg												DNQ
	Larrousse					Ret				DNQ
Motor Racing Developments Ltd.	Pilette					17th
The Chequered Flag	Ashley														DNQ	DNQ
Team Canada F1 Racing	Wietzes														Ret
Allied Polymer Group	Lombardi										DNQ