1969 - The Changing Of The Guard
1969 was a year of many changing faces in the BRM team line up. Due to ill-health, Sir Alfred Owen handed control of BRM to his sister Jean and her husband, Louis Stanley. The pair had been a frequent and involved sight with the team for many years, and they took a hands-on managerial responsibility for the team. Another face to go was in the engineering department. After a long service with the Team, Tony Rudd left as chief engineer and joined Team Lotus. He was replaced by Tony Southgate, whose design for Dan Gurneys Eagle team won the ’68 Indianapolis 500, to head up the Chassis team. Aubrey Woods would also return to take the role of Chief Engineer.
In another part of the engineering team, Peter Wright would begin experimenting with ground effect to manipulate ‘downforce’, aiming to find a body shape that would generate lower air pressure to improve handling around corners. The team started by observing air movement over parts of a glider wing in a wind tunnel like a formula one team would do even to this day. The project was side-lined due to other more extensive commitments; however, these ideas and theories were several years ahead of its’ time, and it would be years before other teams would follow a similar line of research.
On the racing front there was not much good fortune this season. With P133 and P138 struggling to finish, Drivers Jackie Oliver and John Surtees managed only a handful of positions between them. This would only marginally improve upon the debut of P139 at the July Silverstone GP. Whilst the p139 did not finish its’ race at the British GP, it would manage to get a 3rd place spot in Watkins Glen in October with Surtees behind the wheel.
Drivers this year- John Surtees, Jackie Oliver, William Brack, George Eaton
Cars this year- P133, P138, P139