Since 1946 Raymond Mays and a number of engineers had worked in outbuildings at Mays residence at Bourne in Lincolnshire on a design for a radical new V-16 Formula One racing car. British Racing Motors had assistance from some of the largest British car manufacturers and suppliers.

The BRM Trust represented the interests of the backers and in December 1949 they saw the first BRM car demonstrated at Folkingham, near Bourne.

Problems with development meant that it was not ready until the British Grand Prix on the 13th May 1950. Entries were then made for two cars for the Daily Express Trophy Race at Silverstone in August. Preparations for Silverstone were hampered by serious engine failures and further problems meant that BRM missed the Thursday practice sessions. Working through the night, one car was made ready with components from three engines and ran early on race day morning and was then flown to Silverstone. The RAC permitted the car to start if it completed three test laps at a reasonable speed. The driver Raymond Sommer managed laps of around 80mph (Fast qualifying laps were better than 90mph).

At the start, the BRM moved only a few inches with Sommer having no gears and it had to be pushed off the track to boos from the crowd. The press printed many derogatory headlines including "Blooming Rotten Motor". And artivles in publications such as "The Autocar" were not much better. As a result, the public never really had further any faith in BRM.

On the 30th September 1950 Reg Parnell won two races at Goodwood in a BRM and further successes were later to come at this circuit. The BRM Type 15 V-16 was never to win a World Championship race under Formula One.

From 1953 Rubery Own bought the cars and equipment from the trust and two lighter cars (MkII) were built which had had some success in sprint races. Owen built a 2.5-litre car, which won the Formula One race at Caen in 1957 and a Championship at Zandvoort in 1959. BRM won both the Drivers World Championship with Graham Hill and Manufacturers Championship in 1962.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk