The British Racing Motors (unofficial) information centre.

- the cars -- BRM H16 (P83, P109 & P115) -

Cars numbered - 8301/8302/8303 and 1151 - (and also P109)

BRM H16 P83 (8301)
As at May 2007 advertised for sale by Cheshire Classics - "CHASSIS NUMBER 8301 - The first 3 litre (H16) BRM built. It was used in the initial test and development work, and attended nearly every Grand Prix during 1966 and 1967 – driven by Hill, Stewart, Spence and Irwin. Uniquely, the car was then converted by the factory to F5000 specification and subsequently raced by Terry Sanger.
It is offered as a substantially complete car, the only significant items missing being the gearbox, master cylinders and a radiator. The car requires some mechanical restoration but has refurbished and repainted bodywork. It has a chassis plate and continuous history from new.
A P83 which can correctly be run without an H16 engine for £90,000"

After its Formula One life 8301 was bought from BRM in October 1968 by Colin Crabbe and converted it into a F5000 car in his workshops using his spare GT40 Ford 289 engine and ZF gearbox. The car was later sold (with a complete spare monocoque) to John T Williamson in June 1969.

P8302? 25 October 2001 at www.doningtoncollection.com

BRM H16 P83 (8302?) On the left is the car beside the 4 valve H16 engine that was the last development of the engine. On the right a close-up of the H16 engine and suspension.

BRM H16 P83 (8303?)
After its formula one use the car was driven by Peter Gerrish in F5000 with a Rover V8 3.5 litre engine.

Now at the Caister Castle Car Collection, Caister-on-sea ( north of Great Yarmouth)
Said to be the largest private selection of cars in Britain - in the grounds of a moated castle. Should be open from May to September (except Saturday).

BRM H16 P109
As at May 2007 advertised for sale by Cheshire Classics (see photo above) - "PROJECT 109 - This 1967 car was prepared as an exhibition version of the H16 engined P83 for Expo 67 in Montreal, and has never raced. It is offered as a rolling chassis for restoration. The car is substantially complete apart from engine and gearbox, and is in generally good order throughout. It has a chassis plate and continuous history from new. A must for the serious BRM collector at £60,000"

Was previously displayed at the York Motor Museum, Western Australia, Australia.

The original P83 weighed 1480lb.

 22 May 1966 Monaco GP, Monte Carlo

BRM had one of the new cars (P83 - 8301) ready and running at this first race of the Championship year. It was never intended to race the new car but the only way to find out where a car stands against the opposition is in competition.
Lotus had their first H16 engine delivered a few days before the race and the Lotus 43-BRM H16 was not taken to the race.
The BRM H16 was described as running sweetly up to 7,000rpm “after which, it began to hurt the ear-drums”. Hill reported that the engine ran smoothly up to 10,500rpm.

Thursday afternoon   – H16 1min. 40.9sec. (V8 1min 32.3sec.)
Friday morning         – H16 1min 39.6sec (V8 1min 31.1sec.)
Saturday afternoon   – H16 not used (V8 1min. 30.4sec.)
Hill’s V8 time put him fourth on the grid – the H16 time would have been too slow to qualify.

The Starting Grid
1… Jim Clark……… …..Lotus 33--Climax-V8 2-litre ……….1min. 29.9sec.
3…. Jackie Stewart……. BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………..…..1min. 30.3sec.
4… Graham Hill………. BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………..…..1 min. 30.4sec.
12… Mike Spence……… Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre……1 min. 33.5sec.
                                        (Reg Parnell Racing)
13… Jo Siffert………….. Brabham BT11-BRM V8  2-litre…1 min. 34.4sec.
                                       (RRC Walker Racing)
16… Bob Bondurant…… BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………….1 min. 37.3sec..
                                      (Team Chamaco-Collect)

Also Practiced -  Phil Hill - Lotus 25-Climax …1min. 42.2sec. in the camera car for film GRAND PRIX (which has action shots of P261 V8 and P83 H16).

 In the race the Owen Organisation team relied on the tried and trusted (and nimble) P261s in 2 litre “Tasman” form. With such a competitive car the team would have to think twice before commiting to the heavy and complex P83.

 The results - 1966 Monaco GP - 100 laps
1  Jackie Stewart…... BRM P261 V8  2-litre………………...2hrs. 37min. 39.6sec.
3  Graham Hill…….. BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………………99 laps
4  Bob Bondurant…. BRM P261 V8  2-litre………………….95 laps
Retired:
Jo Siffert……………Brabham BT11-BRM V8  2-litre……….36 laps Clutch
Mike Spence……… Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre………….35 laps Rear Suspension

dns…. Peter Arundell…… Lotus 43/1-BRM H16………….car not ready
                                           (Team Lotus)  

Fastest Lap – Lorenzo Bandini Ferrari V6 2.4 litre – 1min. 29.8sec.
16 starters — 4 finishers.

12 June 1966 Belgium GP, Spa-Francorchamps

BRM had 2 P83s (8301 & 8302)
Lotus had the first H16 powered Lotus 43

Stewart set the pace in his BRM at the start of practice – but in the 2-litre P261 not the P83 H16.   Peter Arundell did a few laps in the H16 powered Lotus but then suffered an engine problem and took no more part in the event. Hill and Stewart tried their H16s on both practice days but concentrated on the improved cars from the previous formula. The official timekeepers did not give separate times for the different cars of the BRM drivers but the V8s proved faster than the new and complex H16s. So none of the three H16 powered cars present found their way to the starting grid.

The Starting Grid
1… John Surtees…… Ferrari 312 V12……………….….3min. 38.0sec.
3…. Jackie Stewart…. BRM P261 V8  2-litre……….…..3min. 41.5sec.
7…. Mike Spence……. Lotus 25(R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre….3 min. 45.2sec.
                                    (Reg Parnell Racing)
9….. Graham Hill…… BRM P261 V8  2-litre………….3 min. 45.6sec.
11….. Bob Bondurant.. BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………..3min. 50.5sec.
                                      (Team Chamaco-Collect)
dns… Vic Wilson……… BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………4 min. 26.0sec.
dns…. Peter Arundell…. Lotus 43/1-BRM H16……….5min. 01.2sec.
                                        (Team Lotus)   

The race, as shown by the live action used in the film “Grand Prix”, was hit by a rainstorm partway around the first lap. The three BRMs in the race all spun on the Masta Straight. Hill managed to stay on the track and was about to continue when he saw that Stewart had wrapped his car around a telegraph pole and was trapped in the wreckage. After helping extract his petrol soaked team-mate, Hill drove his healthy car back to the pits to retire from the race.  

The results - 1966 Belgium GP - 28 laps
1 John Surtees…….Ferrari 312 V12………………..2 hrs. 09 min. 11.3 sec.
Retired
Graham Hill………BRM P261 V8  2-litre……..…..1 lap     Accident
Bob Bondurant……BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………1 lap     Accident
Jackie Stewart…….BRM P261 V8  2-litre…….......1 lap     Accident
Mike Spence………Lotus 25-BRM V8  2-litre.….…1 lap     Accident

Fastest Lap - John Surtees Ferrari 312 V12 - 4 min. 18.7 sec.
15 starters — 5 finishers.

Eight BRM engined cars arrived at the Spa circuit – not one managed to get to the end of the first lap. Not a good weekend for the team. A good weekend for motor racing – the safety campaign worked on by drivers such as Hill and Bonnier – was pushed through by Stewart after his experiences at Spa. Would we still have F1 racing if a several drivers were killed or maimed year after year?

3 July 1966  French GP,  Rheims

After his crash at Spa Stewart was absent whilst undergoing repairs.
Hill had his P261 and the two H16s (8301 & 8302).

Wednesday practice Hill did a few laps of the high-speed curcuit in the two H16s his bet lap being 2min. 15.2sec. compaired with his P261 time of  2min. 14.0sec. and the fastest of the day of 2min. 10.7sec by John Surtees in the Cooper T81-Maserati V12. Arundell did not even get the H16 powered Lotus on to the track as the distributer drive sheared whilst still in the paddock.
Thursday practice Arundell did get the H16 powered Lotus on to the track but his exit from the pits in the wrong gear resulted in a burnt out clutch and no proper time being recorded. Hill had a better time with the second H16 with the gear change mechanism converted since Spa to rods from cable. The gear change was still a problem with his best time being 2min. 16.0sec. against 2min. 13.0sec. in the P261 and the fastest of 2min. 08.4sec. by Surtees.
Friday practice Hill tried Firestone tyres on the newer of the H16 and worked away on tuning the car with a few laps at a time until finally he came past the pits of the long main straight “on song”. The H16 was clearly the fastest car at the track with a top speed estimated at 188mph. Due to transmission problems Hill was forced to use very slow gearchanges and hold the car in gear. Even with those handicaps his laps of 2min. 09.4sec. and then 2min. 09.2sec. were second fastest at the time. His fastest time in the P261 was 2min. 12.8sec. Arundell had the H16 powered Lotus sheared its distributer drive again but managed to record a much better time.

Due to the continuing gear selection problems with the faster P83 H16, Hill was to race the old P261.

The Starting Grid
1…. Lorenzo Bandini…… Ferrari 312 V12…………….....….2 min. 07.8 sec.
4*… Graham Hill………. BRM-H16 (830x)……………....... 2min. 09.2sec.
8…… Graham Hill……. BRM P261 V8  2-litre……….......….2 min. 12.8 sec.
10….. Mike Spence…….. Lotus 25(R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre.....….2  min. 14.2 sec.
                                         (Reg Parnell Racing)
15….. John Taylor……… Brabham BT11-BRM V8  2-litre….2  min. 19.2 sec. 
                                         (David Bridges)
16….. Peter Arundell…... Lotus 43/1-BRM H16……….....…2 min. 19.6 sec.
                                         (Team Lotus)

(* Hill in the H16  would have been fourth on the grid – but chose to race the old P261)

The results - 1966  French GP - 48 laps
1  Jack Brabham.…Brabham-Repco V8……….....……….1 hrs. 48 min. 31.3 sec.
6  John Taylor……. Brabham BT11- BRM V8  2-litre…..45 laps
Retired
Graham Hill…….. BRM P261 V8  2-litre……….....…….14 lap     broken inlet camshaft after disputing third place.
Mike Spence…….. Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre…...….9 laps    Clutch
Peter Arundell…….Lotus 43-BRM H16 (43/1)……...….4 laps    Gear-change

Fastest Lap - Lorenzo Bandini, Ferrari -  2 min. 11.3 sec.
17 starters — 8 finishers.

16 July 1966 British Grand Prix, Brands Hatch

The works P83s and the Lotus 43 were absent as the transmission problems required major work to correct. On the twisty Kent track the two litre cars BRMs were not at a great disadvantage. The works team was rewarded with a solid third place.

The Starting Grid
1…. Jack Brabham……..... Brabham-Repco V8……….........…..1 min. 34.5 sec.
4….. Graham Hill……..…. BRM P261 V8  2-litre……….......….1 min. 36.0 sec.
8….. Jackie Stewart……… BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………........1 min. 36.9 sec.
9…… Mike Spence…….…. Lotus 25(R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre…......1 min. 37.3 sec.
                                            (Reg Parnell Racing)
14…… Bob Bondurant…… BRM P261 V8 2-litre………........…1 min. 38.9 sec.
                                            (Bernard White Racing)
16….. John Taylor……..… Brabham BT11-BRM………….....…1min. 40.0
                                           (David Bridges)
20……. Peter Arundell ……Lotus 33(R11)- BRM-V8 2-litre….1 min. 54.3 sec.
                                            (Team Lotus) 

The results - 1966 British Grand Prix - 80 laps
1  Jack Brabham...….Brabham-Repco V8…………......….2 hrs. 13 min. 13.4 sec.
3  Graham Hill…….. BRM P261 V8  2-litre….......………79 laps
8  John Taylor…….. Brabham BT11- BRM………....……76 laps
9  Bob Bondurant…. P261 V8  2-litre…………......……..76 laps
Retired
Peter Arundell…….. Lotus 33 (R11)- BRM-V8 2-litre….32 laps - Gear change
Jackie Stewart……. BRM P261 V8  2-litre……………. 17 laps – Engine misfire
Mike Spence……… Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre…… 15 laps - Oil Leak

Fastest Lap - Jack Brabham Brabham-Repco V8 – 1 min. 37.0 sec.
20 starters — 13 finishers.

24 July 1966 Dutch GP, Zandvoort

The works P83s and the Lotus 43 were again absent as the transmission problems required major work to correct. The works team relied on  the two litre central exhaust Tasman P261 BRMs. Team Lotus had Lotus 33 (R11) with a low-level side exhaust 2 litre B.R.M engine and BRM gearbox.

The Starting Grid
1…. Jack Brabham…….. Brabham-Repco V8……….................1 min. 28.1 sec.
7….. Graham Hill……….. BRM P261 V8  2-litre……...........….1 min. 29.7 sec.
8…… Jackie Stewart…….. BRM P261 V8  2-litre…..........……1 min. 29.8 sec.
12….. Mike Spence………. Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre...….1 min. 31.4 sec.
                                           (Reg Parnell Racing)
15……. Peter Arundell….. Lotus 33 (R11)- BRM-V8 2-litre…. 1 min. 32.0 sec.
                                             (Team Lotus)
17….. John Taylor……….. Brabham BT11- BRM………......….1min 35.7sec.
                                             (David Bridges)

The Results 1966 Dutch GP  - 90 laps
1  Jack Brabham….Brabham-Repco V8…………….…..2 hrs. 20 min. 32.5 sec.
2  Graham Hill….. BRM P261 V8  2-litre ……….…..…89 laps
4  Jackie Stewart…BRM P261 V8  2-litre ……..…….…88 laps
5  Mike Spence…... Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre….….87 laps
8  John Taylor……. Brabham BT11- BRM……..…….….84 laps
Retired
Peter Arundell……. Lotus 33 (R11)- BRM-V8 2-litre….28 laps    Ignition

Fastest Lap - Denny Hulme, Brabham-Repco V8 - 1 min. 30.6 sec.
17 starters — 9 finishers.

7 August 1966 German GP, Nurburgring

The works P83s and the Lotus 43 were still absent as the transmission problems required major work to correct. Hill suffered a broken crankshaft in final practice. Hill started the race on Goodyear tyres and Stewart on Dunlop.

The Starting Grid
1…. Jim Clark ………...... Lotus 33-Climax V8……….....…..8 min. 16.5 sec.
3…... Jackie Stewart…… BRM P261 V8  2-litre……........….8 min. 18.8 sec.
10… Graham Hill…….... BRM P261 V8  2-litre….......……..8 min. 28.6 sec.
11… Bob Bondurant…... BRM P261 V8 2-litre……......…….8 min. 33.0 sec.
                                        (2615 - Bernard White)
13… Mike Spence…....... Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre...... 8 min. 38.6 sec.
                                          (Reg Parnell Racing)
17… Peter Arundell....... Lotus 33 (R11)- BRM-V8 2-litre... 8 min. 52.7 sec.
                                           (Team Lotus)
25… John Taylor…........ Brabham BT11- BRM 2-litre ….…9 min. 08.9 sec.
                                            (David Bridges)
27…. Hubert Hahne....... Matra MS5- BRM  F2………...…..9 min. 17.0 sec.
                                              (Ken Tyrrell Matra)
dns… Jo Schlesser…...... Matra-BRM F2………...……….....9 min. 12.5 sec.
                                              (Works Matra)
                                              ..raced the Cosworth powered car instead.

The Results - 1966 German GP - 15 laps
1  Jack Brabham….Brabham-Repco V8…………........……2 hrs. 27 min. 03.0 sec.
4  Graham Hill……BRM P261 V8  2-litre………….......… 2 hrs. 33 min. 44.4 sec.
5  Jackie Stewart….BRM P261 V8  2-litre…………......… 2 hrs. 35 min. 31.9 sec.
7*  Huber Hahne…Matra MS5- BRM  F2……….........…..14 laps (*second in the F2 division)
8  Peter Arundell….Lotus 33 (R11)- BRM-V8 2-litre….....14 laps
Retired
Mike Spence……... Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre ….......13 laps    Alternator
Bob Bondurant….. BRM-V8 2-litre (2615)………........….3 laps    Engine broken camshaft
John Taylor……… Brabham BT11- BRM………......…....1 lap     Accident – during a rain soaked first lap another car clipped a front wheel of Taylor’s car spinning him into a firey crash in which he was badly burnt.

Fastest Lap - John Surtees, Cooper-Maserati, 8 min. 49.0 sec.
                      Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Matra-Ford F2, 9 min 29.4 sec.
18 starters — 8 finishers (F1).
9 starters — 4 finishers (F2).

4 September 1966 Italian GP, Monza

The works team arrived with three H16s  - 8301 & 8302 and also 8303 a new car with the engine set up with full 16 cylinder ignition timing. The BRM transmission unit had been redesigned to overcome the earlier gear-change problems. The early design had clutch and flywheel unit linked to the gearbox internals. This was changed to be linked to the engine output shaft, which slowed the workings with the engine enabling quicker gearchanges and reduced damage to the previous over speeding cogs.

Friday practice Hill did not get far due to a broken gearbox (1min. 34.7sec.) – Stewart went a little better (1min. 34.6sec.) but Clark’s H16 powered car was near the front at 1min. 32.9sec. As the original H16 was unavailable due to gearbox troubles at pre-race testing Hill brought one of the old P261s out of retirement as back-up.
Saturday practice Clark had a fast and reliable afternoon in his H16 powered car apart from a minor gear linkage problem. The works team were having a hard time as even the reliable old P261 had a blown engine after Hill set a time of 1min. 33.4sec. in it. Stewart used the only working H16, which was Hill’s latest car with the engine and transmission unit from Stewart’s 8302.

Two P83s were back in working order for the race, with Hill back in 8303 and Stewart in 8302.

The Starting Grid
1  Mike Parkes….......….Ferrari 312  V12……….......………1 min. 31.30 sec.
3  Jim Clark………........ Lotus 43-BRM H16………………1 min. 31.80 sec.
                                       (43/1 – Team Lotus)
9  Jackie Stewart…...….. BRM-H16 (8302)………………. 1 min. 32.81 sec.
11 Graham Hill……...…. BRM-H16 (8303)………………. 1 min. 33.40 sec.
13 Peter Arundell……… Lotus 33 (R11)- BRM-V8 2-litre…1 min. 34.10 sec.
                                        (Team Lotus)
14 Mike Spence……….. Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre…….1 min. 35.00 sec.
                                     (Reg Parnell Racing)
17 Bob Bondurant……. BRM-V8 2-litre………………………1 min. 36.90 sec.
                                      (2615 - Bernard White)
dnq Chris Amon……… Brabham BT11- BRM-V8 2-litre…..1 min. 40.30 sec.

The race Clark went to the grid with worries about fluctuating fuel pressure and made a terrible start – but set a fast pace once properly under way. Hill did not complete the opening lap due to an engine blow-up. Stewart retired from the mid field when he was soaked in leaking fuel. Clark was up to the leading pack in fifth place but pitted on lap 13 to change an out of balance tyre. After circulating at high speed but far behind, Clark was troubled by gearbox troubles and finally retired with the car stuck in gear.

The Results - 1966 Italian GP – 68 laps
1  Ludovico Scarfiotti….Ferrari 312  V12……………….1hrs. 47min. 14.8sec.
5  Mike Spence………….Lotus 25 (R3)-BRM-V8 2-litre …67 laps
7  Bob Bonddurant…….BRM-V8 2-litre (2615)…………..65  laps
8  Peter Arundell………Lotus 33 (R11)- BRM-V8 2-litre .63 laps   (Not running at finish)
Retired
Jim Clark …………...…Lotus 43-BRM H16 (43/1)…......59 laps    Gearbox
Jackie Stewart…...…….BRM-H16 (8302)………......… 6 laps    Fuel Leak
Graham Hill……...…….BRM-H16 (8303)…….......…… 1 lap     Engine

 Fastest Lap - Ludovico Scarfiotti, Ferrari, 1 min. 32.4 sec.
20 starters — 9 finishers.

17 September 1966 International Gold Cup, Oulton Park

The works cars had early versions of the engine with ignition timing as “double flat eights”. Jim Clark was entered in the BRM H16 powered Lotus 43/1 but the car had problems in practice and Clark took over Arundell’s  Lotus 33 (R14)-Climax V8 for the race.

 The Starting Grid
1  Jack Brabham…..Brabham-Repco V8……….………1 min. 34.2 sec.
3  Jackie Stewart…. BRM - H16 (8303)………..……. 1 min. 35.4 sec.
4  Graham Hill……. BRM - H16 (8302)……………… 1 min. 35.6 sec.
7  Mike Spence…... Lotus 25- BRM V8………………….1 min. 37.2 sec.
                                (Reg Parnell Racing)
9  Innes Ireland….. BRM P261 - V8………………....…..1 min. 39.0 sec.
                                (2615 - Bernard White)

The race From the start the two works H16s were breathing down the neck of leader Brabham. On the fifth lap BRM were in the lead with Stewart. The leading pack were still tightly grouped when Stewart dropped back with rising water temperature. Hill moved up and was in front from lap 10. Stewart retired on lap 13 with overheating, while the P83 of Hill continued to lead. On lap 18 Hill was demoted to a close second by Brabham and held on until lap 25. The H16 was out with a broken engine after a demonstration of the power of the H16 when it was “on song”. For both Hill and Stewart to lead the nimble Brabhams around the twisty track pointed to a bright future for the H16.

 The Results - International Gold Cup - 40 laps
1 Jack Brabham….Brabham-Repco V8..….1hrs 06min.14.2sec.
4 Innes Ireland…..BRM P261 V8……....….1hrs 07min. 58.8sec.
Retired
Jackie Stewart….. BRM-H16 (8303)….… lap 13 - overheating
Graham Hill……. BRM-H16 (8302)………lap 24 – engine failure
Mike Spence……Lotus 25- BRM V8……….lap 25 – engine & clutch slip

Fastest Lap - Jack Brabham & Denny Hulme, 1 min. 36.6 sec. - 102.89mph.
10 starters — 5 finishers.

2 October 1966 United States GP, Watkins Glen

Friday’s practice started with Clark fastest at 1min 11.13sec.in the BRM H16 engined Lotus, which was actually entered as the car for Arundell. At the end of the day Graham Hill was down to 1min. 8.87sec. and Stewart set a time of 1min. 09.97sec.
Saturday practice closed as the track dried out and times dropped. The session ended with Clark in the H16 managing to record 1min. 08.53sec. to join Brabham on the front row of the grid. As Clark cruised back to the pits something went wrong with his BRM engine and, on inspection, oil was found seeping from one of the four banks of exhausts. BRM’s spare “mint condition” engine was passed to Lotus to fit into their type 43 for the race.

 The Starting Grid
1   Jack Brabham..............Brabham BT20-Repco V8...................1 min. 08.42 sec.
2   Jim Clark.......................Lotus 43-BRM H16 ………………...1 min. 08.53 sec.
                                          (43/1 – Team Lotus)
5   Graham Hill...................BRM-H16 (8302)................................1 min. 08.87 sec.
6   Jackie Stewart...............BRM-H16 (8301)................................1 min. 09.17 sec.
10  Pedro Rodriguez..........Lotus 33-BRM V8...............................1 min. 10.40 sec.
                                          (Team Lotus)
12  Mike Spence................Lotus 25-BRM V8 2-litre....................1 min. 10.73 sec.
                                          (Reg Parnell Racing)
17  Innes Ireland..............BRM-V8 2-litre....................................1 min. 12.63 sec.
                                         (2615 - Bernard White)

After working overnight to replace the wrecked H16, Lotus had still not decided if Clark should use the 3-litre type 43 or the 2-litre type 33. The choice was second on the grid with the fast but fragile 3-litre H16 (with the engine change still not completly installed) or a tenth place start in the slow but reliable 2-litre Coventry-Climax. Working on the H16 until the last minute Clark only took his place on the grid as engines were started for the warming-up lap. Even then oil was leaking from the engine and only work on the grid itself stopped the problem as the cars started their warm-up lap.

The Race At the end of the first lap the order was Bandini(Ferrari), Clark(Lotus-BRM H16), Ginther(Honda), Brabham(Brabham-Repco), Surtees(Cooper-Maserati) and Stewart(BRM H16) and Hill(BRM H16).
As the leaders began to lap the tail-enders. Brabham and Bandini, passed Arundell(Lotus), but both Surtees and Arundell spun off the track. They both managed to return to the pits and after safety checks Surtees restarted in 13^th position, three laps behind.
Lap 13 - Gurney retired his Eagle-Weslake V12 with a slipping clutch due to an oil leak.
Lap 18 - Hulme retired his Brabham-Repco V8 due to low oil pressure.
Bandini lost the lead on the 35th lap with a major Ferrari engine blow-up. This left Brabham with a fair lead over Clark’s Lotus-BRM H16 and then a distant Stewart in the BRM H16.
On the 53rd lap Hill, after earlier gearbox problems, retired with a broken crown wheel and pinion.
On lap 54 Stewart came to a halt leaking oil and water due to a suspected shattered cylinder liner.
On lap 55 Brabham came into the pits to retire from the lead with a broken camshaft in his Repco engine. This left Clark with a large lead, his H16 BRM engine running perfectly (so far!).
After the retirement of a number of the main contenders the race then settled down to a test of stamina. It is important to remember that 1966 was the first year of the 3-litre formula and most engines were untried and complex. Unlike current F1 the cars these had to be nursed to the finishing flag, those who drove at 100% all the way greatly increased the chance of mechanical failure. Clark took the flag with the BRM engined car at least a lap ahead of all the other runners.

As MotorSport reported “Sceptics who said the H16 engine would never win a race should have been at the Glen when Clark took the flag, for the engine note was as crisp as on the first lap.”
Click here for the story of the race.

 The Results - 1966 United States GP – 108 laps
1st Jim Clark.……....Lotus 43-B.R.M. H16 (43/1)...........2hrs. 09 min. 40.1 sec.
Retired
Innes Ireland……… BRM-V8 2-litre (2615)…………..… lap 96 failed alternator belt & flat battery
Mike Spence.……... Lotus 25-BRM V8 2-litre ….....……74 laps Ignition
Jackie Stewart.…….BRM-H16 (8301)…………….......53 laps Engine
Graham Hill……......BRM-H16 (8302)…………….......52 laps Crown Wheel and Pinion
Pedro Rodriguez…...Lotus 33-BRM V8……………….13 laps Starter

Fastest lap -  J. Surtees (Cooper-Maserati V12), 1 min. 9.67 sec.
19 starters — 6 finishers.

23 October 1966 Mexican GP, Mexico City

The works team had all three  P83s back in working order, with Hill back in 8303 with the true 16 cylinder and Stewart in 8301 & 8302 with the earlier “double 8” engines.

 Friday practice The P83s were suffering from handling problems and Stewart had the nose of his car removed to combat overheating. Clark set a fast time (1min 54.06sec.) in the BRM H16 engined Lotus when the engine blew up in a big way. The engine was the one that had won in the USA and had covered about 300 limes since a rebuild – the same distance as Stewart’s USA blow up. Both units were destroyed by crankshaft balance weights and their bolts failing. Later “8–pin” self balancing crankshafts were intended to solve the problem. Until then 300 miles was all that could be expected from an engine.At the end of the day Graham Hill was down to 1min. 59.24sec. and Stewart set a time of 1min. 56.64sec.

Saturday practice All three H16 powered cars improved their times. The two works cars were ominously leaking oil, but this proved to be a minor problem of a leaking plug in the oil pressure relief valve.

The Starting Grid
1    John Surtees...........Cooper-Maserati V12...........1 min. 53.18 sec.
2    Jim Clark.................Lotus 43-BRM H16..............1 min. 53.50sec.
                                      (43/1 – Team Lotus)
7    Graham Hill .............BRM-H16 (8302).................1 min. 54.61 sec.
10   Jackie Stewart.........BRM-H16 (8301).................1 min. 55.90 sec.
16   Innes Ireland..........BRM-V8 2-litre.....................1 min. 57.46 sec.
                                      (2615 - Bernard White)
17   Peter Arundell.......Lotus 33-BRM V8.................2 min. 00.79 sec.
                                      (Team Lotus)
dns Mike Spence..........Lotus 25-BRM V8 2-litre.......1 min. 55.98 sec.
                                    (Reg Parnell Racing)             Withdrawn after practice crash.

The Race At the end of the first lap the H16 situation was, Clark sixth with gear change problems, Stewart seventh and Hill 12^th with a misfiring engine. A broken gear selector caused Clark’s retirement on the 9^th lap. Stewart’s engine was leaving a smoke haze behind it but still managed to move up to fourth by lap ten. Hill retired on the 18^th lap, his weak engine finally clattering and clanking.
On lap 25, Stewart moved up to third and was closing quickly on the leading pair when the H16 had finally burnt off all its oil and came to a halt on the 26^th lap.

 The Results - 1966 Mexican GP – 65 laps
1 John Surtees……..Cooper-Maserati V12…...…..2hrs. 06 min. 35.34 sec.
7  Peter Arundell….Lotus 33-BRM V8……...........…61 laps
Retired
Innes Ireland………BRM-V8 2-litre (2615 )……..28 laps    Transmission
Jackie Stewart…….BRM-H16 (8301)……….…..26 laps    Oil Leak
Graham Hill…….…BRM-H16 (8302)………..….18 laps    Engine
Jim Clark…………Lotus 43-BRM H16 (43/1)......9 laps    Gearbox

 Fastest Lap - Richie Ginther, Honda 1 min. 53.75 sec.
18 starters — 8 finishers.

The story of 1967 to follow .......................................

And as a taster of life after Formula One ............

The H16 cars had a life after Formula One once set aside by the works team. The complex screaming sixteen cylinders were replaced by thumping V8s for F5000 racing (5 litre "stock block" engined open wheel racing cars). The engine to have in this series was the Chevrolet - in 1969 the John T. Williamson owned P83 was the best of the Ford powered cars.

 26 May 1969 Guards F5000 Championship round 4, Mallory Park
108 miles (being 2 heats of 40 laps)
BRM (P83 - 8301)- Ford V8 5-litre..........................Colin Crabbe...............did not start

3 August 1969 North Sea Trophy, Coxyde
Guards F5000 Championship round 7 - 128.5 miles (being 2 heats of 22 laps)
1 Trevor Taylor................Surtees TS5-Chevrolet V8......................1hrs. 6min. 55.0sec.
6 Terry Sanger...................BRM (P83 - 8301)-Ford V8 5-litre..........40 laps

10 August 1969 Guards F5000 Championship round 8, Zandvoort, Holland
104 miles (being 2 heats of 20 laps)
1 Trevor Taylor.............Surtees TS5-Chevrolet V8.........................58min. 06.3 sec.
8 Terry Sanger...............BRM (P83 - 8301)- Ford V8 5-litre

 14 September 1969 Preis Der Nationen, Hockenheim, Germany
Guards F5000 Championship round 10 - 126.2 miles (being 2 heats of 15laps)
1 Trevor Taylor.............Surtees TS5-Chevrolet V8.........................58min. 34.3 sec.
7 Terry Sanger................BRM (P83 - 8301)- Ford V8 5-litre

 20 September 1969 Guards F5000 Championship round 11, Oulton Park
110 miles (being 2 heats of 20 laps)
1 Mike Walker.............Lola T142-Chevrolet V8...............................1hrs. 03mins. 10.0sec.
7 Terry Sanger..............BRM (P83 - 8301)- Ford V8 5-litre

28 September 1969 Guards F5000 Championship, Brands Hatch
106 miles (being 2 heats of 20 laps)
1 Mike Hailwood..........Lola T143-Chevrolet V8...............................1hrs. 02mins. 01.6sec.
6 Terry Sanger..............BRM (P83 - 8301) - Ford V8 5-litre..............37 laps

12 September 1971 Preis Der Nationen, Hockenheim, Germany
Rothmans F5000 Championship round 14 - 126.5 miles (30 laps)
Peter Gerrish.................BRM (P83 - 8303) - Rover V8 3.5 litre.............retired

V1.9 - 25 April 2015 ---- recommended resolution (1366 x 768)

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