BRMs (and more) fly at Blyton Park

What a feast. Our man Rick Wilson fortunately had his camera with him when he went to the BRM Association Track Day at Blyton Park in the UK.

The BRM Association Track Day, held at Ginetta’s Blyton Park in Lincolnshire, England, was back for the first time in three years after a pandemic-enforced absence. Usually held in April, the event celebrates historic racing machinery with a largely BRM flavour, but other important marques are always welcome to join in, with on-track activity for the owners available if desired.

Members of the BRM Association are allowed to attend as spectators, as are a small number of invited guests.

Ronnie Peterson’s Lotus 72

This year’s event featured a mouthwatering lineup of classic racing cars, the majority of which spent some time out on track. BRMs to do so were a P57, P126, P153 (another was on static display in the paddock), P154, P160, P261, P578, the first of the new V16 continuations and a BRP. Also in attendance and running were Brabham BT8 SC-5-64, a Lotus 18, Lotus 72/R6 (ex-Ronnie Peterson and 4-time GP winner in 1974, present to bed in brakes ahead of its upcoming entry at Monaco), Malcolm Rickett’s Lotus MkIX, a March 752, a McLaren M10B, a Metro 6R4, a Vauxhall Firenza Droopsnoot, and the Willment BRM.

Pilbeam

An important part of the marque’s history, and carrying on the tradition of motorsport manufacture in BRM’s home town of Bourne, is ex-BRM (and Lotus) designer, Mike Pilbeam. Mike has been designing and building hillclimb and racing cars bearing his own name in the town since the mid-1970s. He supports the day by bringing along examples of his designs, and this year there were two – the original example of the 1991 Pilbeam MP62 (chassis 001), and the 2005 & 2006 Sepang 12 Hours winning Lotus 300RR one-off. Both saw time out on track.

Flying P153

Despite this being an untimed event, the fastest car of the day was clearly BRM P153/05, in the hands of the talented Mexican, Esteban Gutiérrez. The ex-Sauber and Haas F1 driver (and current Mercedes reserve driver) was having a ball in the car that was once driven by his compatriot and hero, Pedro Rodríguez. His handling skills are exemplary and the car’s progress out on the circuit was an absolute joy to behold.

(Text: Rick Wilson)