View source for Brabham BT44

{{Short description|Formula One racing car}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}{{Infobox racing car
| Car_name = Brabham BT44<br />Brabham BT44B
| Image = [[File:Brabham BT44 at Barber 01.jpg|frameless|upright= 1.25]]
| caption = Brabham BT44 ({{F1|1974}})
| Category = [[Formula One]]
| Constructor = [[Brabham]]
| Designer = [[Gordon Murray]]
| Predecessor = [[Brabham BT42|BT42]]
| Successor = [[Brabham BT45|BT45]]
| Team = [[Brabham|Motor Racing Developments]]<br>[[Martini Racing]] (1975)
| Drivers = {{ubl|7. {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Carlos Reutemann]]|8. {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Richard Robarts]]|8. {{flagicon|LIE}} [[Rikky von Opel]]|8. {{flagicon|BRA}} [[José Carlos Pace|Carlos Pace]]}}
| Technical ref = 
| Chassis = Aluminum monocoque
| Front suspension = Rising rate pullrod actuated
| Rear suspension = Multi-link
| Engine name = [[Cosworth DFV]]
| Capacity = 2993 cc
| Configuration = 90 Degree V-8
| Turbo/NA = Naturally aspirated
| Engine position = Mid-engined
| Gearbox name = Hewland FG400
| Gears = 5 forward, 1 reverse
| Type = 
| Differential = 
| Fuel = [[Petrofina|FINA]]
| Tyres = [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]]
| Debut = [[1974 Argentine Grand Prix]]
| Races = 36
| Wins = 5
| Cons_champ = 0
| Drivers_champ = 0
| Poles = 2
| Fastest_laps = 4
}}
The '''Brabham BT44''' was a [[Formula One]] [[racing car]] designed by [[Gordon Murray]], [[Brabham]]'s chief designer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13641/Brabham-BT44.aspx |title=1974 Brabham BT44 Images, Information and History |publisher=Conceptcarz.com |access-date=2011-07-05}}</ref> and was using in the [[1974 Formula One season|1974]], [[1975 Formula One season|1975]] and in [[1976 Formula One season|1976]] season by [[RAM Racing]].

== Design ==
An update of the partially successful BT42 of 1973, the BT44 was a simple design with a standard Ford [[Cosworth DFV|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 Racing|Martini]].<ref name="MsM">{{cite magazine | url = https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/great-racing-cars-1974-brabham-bt44 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191212211239/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/great-racing-cars-1974-brabham-bt44 | archive-date = 2019-12-12 | title = Great racing cars: 1974 Brabham BT44 | magazine = Motor Sport | first = Damien | last = Smith | date = 2015-10-14 }}</ref>

== Racing history ==

=== 1974 ===
[[File:1974 Brands Hatch Race of Champions Reutemann Brabham BT44.jpg|thumb|left|[[Carlos Reutemann]] in the all-white Brabham BT44 at the 1974 [[Race of Champions (Brands Hatch)|Race of Champions]].]]

The 1974 season was successful for Brabham. [[Carlos Reutemann]] took three wins with the car, partnered by [[José Carlos Pace|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.

=== 1975 ===
The BT44 was modified for 1975, and Pace won his first and only Grand Prix at his home event in [[1975 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazil]], while Reutemann won at the [[1975 German Grand Prix|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 by finishing second. Whilst the BT44 was a good car, it couldn't match the [[McLaren M23]] or the [[Ferrari 312T]].<ref name=RT616>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a28816/archive-drive-bobby-and-the-brabham-bt44/ | title = Driving Your Hero Is Anything But a Disappointment | date = 2016-04-14 | last = Lamm | first = John | magazine = [[Road & Track]] | issue = June 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160815233557/https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/a28816/archive-drive-bobby-and-the-brabham-bt44/ | archive-date = 2016-08-15 }}</ref>

=== 1976 ===
[[File:1975 Brabham BT44B no. 7, Lime Rock.jpg|thumb|left|1975 Brabham '''BT44B''']]
The BT44 was replaced by the [[Alfa Romeo (Formula One)|Alfa Romeo]] powered [[Brabham BT45|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 Formula One season|1976 World Championship]], including [[Loris Kessel]], [[Emilio de Villota]], [[Patrick Nève]], [[Jac Nellemann]], [[Damien Magee]], [[Lella Lombardi]] and [[Bob Evans (race driver)|Bob Evans]], none of whom had much success.<ref name=UCP70>{{cite web | url = https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/70/Brabham-BT44.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180228145442/https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/70/Brabham-BT44.html | archive-date = 2018-02-28 | title = 1974 - 1975 Brabham BT44 - Images, Specifications and Information | work = Ultimate Car Page }}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Formula One World Championship results==
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) (results in '''bold''' indicate pole position, results in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! Entrant
! Chassis
! Engine
! Tyres
! Drivers
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|Pts]]
! WCC
|-
| rowspan=6 | {{F1|1974}}
| rowspan=5 | [[Motor Racing Developments]]
| rowspan=6 | BT44
| rowspan=6 | [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] [[Cosworth DFV]] 3.0 [[V8 engine|V8]]
| rowspan=5 | {{Goodyear}}
|
| [[1974 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]
| [[1974 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
| [[1974 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]
| [[1974 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[1974 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1974 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1974 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]
| [[1974 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]
| [[1974 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1974 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1974 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1974 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]
| [[1974 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1974 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[1974 United States Grand Prix|USA]]
|
| rowspan=6 | '''35'''{{ref|A|1}}
| rowspan=6 | '''5th'''
|-
| align="left"| [[Carlos Reutemann]]
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 7
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 7
| style="background:#FBFFBF;"| ''1''
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 6
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
| style="background:#FBFFBF;"| 1
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9
| style="background:#FBFFBF;"| '''1'''
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Richard Robarts]]
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 17
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Rikky von Opel]]
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Carlos Pace]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ''5''
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 8
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| ''2''
| 
|-
| [[Goldie Hexagon Racing]]
| {{Firestone}}
| align="left"| [[John Watson (racing driver)|John Watson]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 7
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5
| 
|-
| rowspan=3 | {{F1|1975}}
| rowspan=3 | [[Martini Racing]]
| rowspan=3 | BT44B
| rowspan=3 | [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] [[Cosworth DFV]] 3.0 [[V8 engine|V8]]
| rowspan=3 | {{Goodyear}}
|
| [[1975 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]
| [[1975 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
| [[1975 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]
| [[1975 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[1975 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1975 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1975 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]
| [[1975 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]
| [[1975 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1975 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1975 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1975 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]
| [[1975 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1975 United States Grand Prix|USA]]
|
|
| rowspan=3 style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''54'''
| rowspan=3 style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''2nd'''
|-
| align="left"| [[Carlos Reutemann]] 
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 8
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 9
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 14
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#FBFFBF;"| 1
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 14
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Carlos Pace]]
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#FBFFBF;"| 1
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| '''''4'''''
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 8
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 5
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| 
| 
|-
| rowspan=9 | {{F1|1976}}
| rowspan=9 | [[RAM Racing]]
| rowspan=9 | BT44B
| rowspan=9 | [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] [[Cosworth DFV]] 3.0 [[V8 engine|V8]]
| rowspan=9 | {{Goodyear}}
|
| [[1976 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
| [[1976 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]
| [[1976 United States Grand Prix West|USW]]
| [[1976 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[1976 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1976 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1976 Swedish Grand Prix|SWE]]
| [[1976 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1976 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1976 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1976 Austrian Grand Prix|AUT]]
| [[1976 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]
| [[1976 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[1976 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[1976 United States Grand Prix|USA]]
| [[1976 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]
| rowspan=9| '''0'''
| rowspan=9| '''-'''
|-
| align="left"| [[Loris Kessel]]
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12
| 
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| 
| 
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NC
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Emilio de Villota]]
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Patrick Nève]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Jac Nellemann]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Damien Magee]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Bob Evans (race driver)|Bob Evans]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Lella Lombardi]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DNQ
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| align="left"| [[Rolf Stommelen]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| style="background:#FFFFFF;"| DNS
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|}

{{note|A|1}} Includes 1 point scored using a [[Brabham BT42]].

==See also==
* [[Tyrrell P34]]
* [[Lotus 72]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Brabham|BT44}}
{{F1 cars 1974}}
{{F1 cars 1975}}
{{F1 cars 1976}}

[[Category:Brabham Formula One cars]]
[[Category:1974 Formula One season cars]]
[[Category:1975 Formula One season cars]]
[[Category:1976 Formula One season cars]]