British Racing Motors (BRM) staged a once-in-a-lifetime track demonstration and paddock display to mark its 75th anniversary at this year’s Oulton Park Gold Cup (July 25-27, 2025).
Nineteen race cars built by the Bourne, Lincolnshire-based race car manufacturer were displayed at the event in Cheshire, ranging from iconic Formula 1 machines to the experimental Rover-BRM gas-turbine car that raced at the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours.
The undoubted star of the collection was P578/1 – the Formula 1 car Graham Hill drove to the 1962 World Championship. Nicknamed Old Faithful, it was recently seen in action at the 2022 Goodwood Revival, driven by Hill’s son Damon. On this occasion, P578/1 was piloted by another renowned British racer – Le Mans legend Richard Attwood – who also drove P578/1 in the 1964 non-Championship News of the World Trophy at Goodwood.
“The last time I drove a P578 was in 1964 at Goodwood,” Richard confirmed, just before climbing into the cockpit for his Oulton Park Gold Cup demo run. “So it’s been several years since I’ve driven one. It was the only race I did for BRM that year, because Graham [Hill] and Richie [Ginther] did most of the driving.”
He continued: “Cars of the era were a little wayward, but they progressively got better – and this is a very special occasion. I’m going to be careful because this is now a very valuable machine – and when I’m driving someone else’s car, I always feel a sense of responsibility. I have to behave.”
Despite the sentiment, it was clear that Richard felt at home behind the wheel of P578/1. Crowds watched with delight as the Briton rang out the 1.5-litre V8 down the pit straight, before staccato throttle blips preceded his arrival into the banked turn-one right-hander of Old Hall. He was joined on the circuit by Old Faithful’s sister car, P578/3, which Ginther raced in the model’s final Works appearance at the 1963 South African Grand Prix in East London.
Attwood’s reunion with P578/1 was complemented by the visceral spectacle of the BRM P15 V16 Continuation lapping the circuit. Powered by an exotic twin-supercharged 1.5-litre V16, the 600bhp Grand Prix contender was expertly driven by Rob Hall of historic motor sport specialist Hall & Hall. The awe-inspiring engine could be heard for miles around as Rob neared its 12,000rpm red line at various points on the circuit.
At the other end of the decibel scale was the Rover-BRM prototype, which whooshed around the track like a jet aircraft. Based on a widened version of BRM’s 1962 F1 chassis, this pioneering gas-turbine-powered machine appeared at the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours as an experimental entry, finishing an impressive eighth with Hill and Ginther sharing driving duties.
The rambunctious trio of 1970s F1 cars – the P153, P160 and P201 – put on a spirited display, their V12 engines screaming as they jockeyed for position around the 2.7-mile circuit. Raced in period by the likes of Pedro Rodríguez, Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Niki Lauda, the spectacle certainly brought the era to life.
Other highlights of the on-track spectacle at the Oulton Park Gold Cup 2025 included BRM’s first Grand Prix winner, the 1959 P25; the ferocious 1965 Willment BRM V8 Can-Am; the Coventry Climax-engined 1961 P75; and the 1966 BRM Formula 2 car campaigned in period by Jo Siffert.
Adding to the occasion was the fact that several of those watching trackside were former BRM team members. Among them was former chief engine mechanic, Roger Barsby. “It’s a hell of a thing, seeing them all running again – it takes me right back,” he told Magneto after the cars had pulled back into the pitlane. “That V16 especially – just hearing it gives me goosebumps. The sound of BRM’s engines could be heard for miles around Bourne, and the whole town would vibrate. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Roger was joined by Nick, Paul and Simon Owen – descendants of BRM’s long-time patron and team owner Sir Alfred Owen, whose Rubery Owen Group took over the team in 1952. His unwavering backing was instrumental in securing the 1962 Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, four further seasons as runner-up and a total of 17 Grand Prix victories.
Nick, Simon and Paul are all playing an active role in preserving BRM’s legacy through the ongoing work of BRM Ltd, which manages the team’s archive and oversees historic restorations and the Continuation programme. Much of the mechanical work is carried out in partnership with Bourne-based Hall & Hall, whose engineering expertise and intimate knowledge of the team’s past have been essential in bringing BRM race cars to life.
A more contemporary link to the team could be found in the Owen Motor Club stand, where a quartet of Rover 200 BRM hot hatches were lined up among myriad other classics. One of the four examples displayed is owned by David Owen, son of Sir Alfred, and was driven to the event by his son, Nick.
Appropriately, the weekend’s BRM celebrations were capped off with a race victory, as Andy Willis drove Charles McCabe’s BRM P48 to the win in Sunday’s Historic Gold Cup. BRM never won the Gold Cup in period, but Graham Hill did clinch a third-place finish in the 1960 edition with the very same chassis as driven by Willis.
The weekend’s celebrations made it clear that there’s still plenty of affection for BRM – and thanks to the combined efforts of the Owen family and Hall & Hall, the legendry race car manufacturer looks certain to be celebrated for another 75 years at least.
