The Secret Life of Formula One - The BRM Project

" Before the Second World War, German teams had dominated Grand Prix racing. Mercedes Benz led by team manager Alfred Neubauer had set the standards of professionalism that defined today's Formula One teams. After the Second World War, with Germany in ruins, the British motor industry decided to assume the dominant position that Mercedes Benz had once occupied."

" The 1-1/2 liter BRM is not just a new British racing motor; it's the product of the combined effort of more than 160 British manufacturing firms, no expense being spared. The plan is to restore British racing prestige all over the world and it's hoped that the new BRM will be in action during 1950. The hugely ambitious BRM project was the brainchild of gentleman racer Raymond Mays. His inspiration came from Germany. As the war drew to a close, the allies plundered Germany's technical expertise. While the Americans were employing German rocket scientists, the British decided to steal the German Formula, the Grand Prix success. In 1948, His Majesty's Stationery Office published a secret report imaginatively entitled"

" Investigation Into the Development of German Grand Prix Racing Cars Between 1934 and 1939"

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" This would be the blue print for the BRM. But the BRM would be a false start. Not surprisingly, it looked like a smaller version of the Mercedes W154, but with the 1.5-liter supercharged V16 engine, it was technically overcomplicated. To make matters worse, Raymond Mays was no Alfred Neubauer. The BRM project lacked focus and ultimately became a very public embarrassment."

" BRM was run by people who really didn't understand that the imperative is to win races. Technically, they had some wonderful ideas. They built this technologically, hugely sophisticated car, but it just sadly never worked."

" The drama of the last minute"

" Alfred Neubauer and his Mercedes Benz team returned to Grand Prix racing. The Silver Arrows haven't lost their secret ingredient. They were everything that BRM was not, streamlined and ruthlessly efficient from the top down. The returned of Mercedes Benz was a symbol of hope for a new country, West Germany. Within just one season, the team again dominated motor racing. At the British Grand Prix in 1955, Mercedes Benz took the first 4 places. Stirling Moss became the first Englishman to win his home race in the new era of Formula One. Neubauer's team again looked unstoppable. But once more, tragedy would end to the team's dominance. Mercedes Benz announced its withdrawal from all motor sports at the end of the season. Weeks earlier, the team had been stunned by the worst accident in the history of motor racing. At Le Mans 24 Hours sports car race, a Mercedes Benz collided with a smaller car as it slowed into the pit lane. The Mercedes Benz was sent flying into the crowd. More than 80 people were killed. Mercedes Benz would not return to Grand Prix racing for more than 30 years."