V16 Mk I

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HistoryIn a world so recently recovering from the horrors of WW2, “British Racing Motors” was formed in 1946 to elevate national prestige on the European racing stage. So, with the eyes of the country upon them, BRM developed the V16.

The first Bespoke racing car since the 1920s and the first that was entirely British-made, The 1.5L V16 P15 produced more than 600BHP and was the first car to rev more than 10,000rpm; More than any of it’s contemporaries. Designed by a team of Peter Berthon, Harry Mundy, Eric Richter and Frank May, it was designed as two V8 750cc engines back-to-back, connected with cam drives and gears at the heart. Various other companies constructed or helped design many of the component parts, such as Standard Motors, Girling, Lucas, English Steel, Rolls-Royce and Rubery Owen who designed the chassis.

According to Mundy, the gearbox was designed based on the 1939 pre-war 1.5L Mercedes Benz V8 W165. It had a 32-valve valvetrain, A double overhead camshaft with two valves per cylinder, and a two-stage centrifugal supercharger. The fuel system was Carburettor based, and the oil system was dry sump.

V16 was displayed at Folkingham Aerodrome and driven by Raymond Mays, who had the flu at the time and was met with favourable responses from the general public and the press, however when it came to it’s debut race at Silverstone in 1950 to be driven by Raymond Sommer, with (then) Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip in attendance, it sheared a drive shaft and would not start. This was rectified by it’s second race, however, winning both Woodcote Cup, then the Goodwood Trophy on the same day with Reg Parnell at the wheel.

The V16 is known for it’s tremendous...and very distinctive...engine roar.

Notable Victories

1950- Reg Parnell- 1st at both the Woodcote Cup and the Goodwood Trophy in the same day on the V16's second outing.

1952- Reg Parnell- 1st at The National Trophy at Turnberry

Goodwood Trophy- Won 1st,2nd and 3rd by Froilan Gonzalez, Reg Parnell and Ken Wharton respectively. Also managed 1st place (Froilan Gonzalez) and 3rd place (Reg Parnell) for the Woodcote Cup on the same day.

1953- Ken Wharton got 1st place at the Glover trophy at Goodwood, the USAF Trophy and the USA Invitation at Snetterton on the same day, 1st at the Formula Libre at Charterhall and 1st at the Formula Libre race at Castle Coombe.

1954- Ken Wharton won 1st place at the Glover Trophy race at Goodwood.

Connections

DriversRaymond SommerReg ParnellKen WhartonSir Stirling MossJuan FangioFroilan GonzalezKen RichardsonPeter WalkerVenueSilverstone CircuitChristchurchArdmoreCastle CoombeSnettertonCharterhallTurnberryBorehamDundrodLes PlanquesMonzaGoodwoodEventWoodcote CupLady Wigram TrophyNew Zealand Grand PrixHastings TrophyUSAF TrophyGlover TrophyChichester CupNational TrophyFormule Libre TrophyUlster TrophyAlbi Grand PrixItalian Grand PrixBritish Grand PrixPenya Rhin Grand PrixInternational TrophyGoodwood TrophyOrganisationBRMPersonnelWillie SouthcottMaurice DoveRaymond MaysPeter BerthonEric RichterCollectionBRM In The BeginningsPlaceThe BRM WorksRelated itemsBRM Videos- The ReawakeningBRM Videos- The Chrysalis