# BRM V12 engine

The BRM V12 engine is a V12 Formula One racing engine, designed, developed and built by British manufacturer and constructor BRM, between 1967 and 1977.

## Background

The H16 was replaced by a V12 (2.9375 x 2.25 in, 74.61 x 57.15 mm) designed by Geoff Johnson. It had been intended for sports car use, but was first used in F1 by the McLaren M5A. Back at the works, the early V12 years were lean ones. In 1967 the two-valve layout gave about 360 bhp (270 kW) at 9,000 rpm. In 1968 this had increased to 390 bhp (290 kW) at 9,750 rpm. Geoff Johnson updated the design by adding a four-valve head, based on the H16 485 bhp 4-valve layout; this improved the V12's power output to 452 bhp (337 kW) at 10,500 rpm and eventually to a claimed 465 bhp (347 kW) during 1969. In 1973, Louis Stanley claimed 490 bhp (370 kW) at 11,750 rpm. The design and building of the first V-12 chassis, the P126 was contracted to former Lotus and Eagle designer Len Terry's Transatlantic Automotive Consultants. The cars first appeared during the 1968 Tasman Championship, powered by 2.5 litre versions of the engine, temporary team driver Bruce McLaren winning the fourth round of the series at Teretonga but being generally unimpressed with the car. BRM themselves built further examples of the Terry design, which were designated P133 and 1968 team drivers Mike Spence and Pedro Rodríguez appeared competitive in early season non championship races at Brands Hatch and Silverstone, but then Spence was killed driving the Lotus 56 turbine during qualifying at Indianapolis. Spence's replacement, Richard Attwood, finished a good second to Graham Hill's Lotus at Monaco, but after this results went downhill and the season petered out ignominiously. For 1969 the four valve per cylinder engine was developed and a new slimline car, the P139 was built. John Surtees joined as the team's lead driver backed up by Jack Oliver. Rodríguez was shunted into the semi-works Parnell team. Surtees' time at BRM was not a happy one and, despite the fact that a ground effect "wing car" was designed, this was never constructed and the team's performances were lacklustre. Surtees left after a single season (1969), along with Tony Rudd who went to Lotus (initially on the road-car side), and Geoff Johnson who departed for Austin Morris.
The team regrouped with Tony Southgate as designer and Rodríguez brought back into the fold to partner Oliver, and gained its first V12 victory when Rodríguez won the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix in a P153, with further victories for Jo Siffert and Peter Gethin in 1971 in the P160. The team had reached one of its intermittent peaks of success. Both Siffert and Rodríguez were killed before the 1972 season and the team had to regroup completely again. Their last World Championship victory came when Jean-Pierre Beltoise drove a stunning race to win the rain-affected 1972 Monaco Grand Prix with the P160. He also won the non-championship 1972 World Championship Victory Race later in the year. The 1972 campaign was generally chaotic: having acquired major sponsorship, Louis Stanley originally planned to field up to six cars (three for established drivers, three for paying journeymen and young drivers) of varying designs including P153s, P160s and P180s and actually ran up to five for a mix of paying and paid drivers until it became obvious that it was completely overstretched and the team's sponsors insisted that the team should cut back to a more reasonable level and only three cars were run in 1973 for Beltoise, Lauda, and Regazzoni.

## Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine(s) | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | WDC | Points |
| 1967 | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing | McLaren M5A | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | | RSA | MON | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | CAN | ITA | USA | MEX | | | | | | | 10th | 3 |
| 1967 | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing | McLaren M5A | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Bruce McLaren | | | | | | | | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | | | | | | | 10th | 3 |
| 1968 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P126 BRM P133 BRM P138 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | CAN | USA | MEX | | | | | | 28 | 5th |
| 1968 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P126 BRM P133 BRM P138 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Pedro Rodríguez | Ret | Ret | Ret | 2 | 3 | NC$^F$ | Ret | 6 | Ret | 3 | Ret | 4 | | | | | | 28 | 5th |
| 1968 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P126 BRM P133 BRM P138 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Richard Attwood | | | 2$^F$ | Ret | 7 | 7 | Ret | 14 | | | | | | | | | | 28 | 5th |
| 1968 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P126 BRM P133 BRM P138 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Bobby Unser | | | | | | | | | DNS | | Ret | | | | | | | 28 | 5th |
| 1968 | Reg Parnell Racing | BRM P126 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Piers Courage | | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6 | 8 | 8 | 4 | Ret | Ret | Ret | | | | | | 28 | 5th |
| 1968 | Bernard White Racing | BRM P261 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Frank Gardner | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 28 | 5th |
| 1968 | Cooper Car Company | Cooper T86B | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | F | Ludovico Scarfiotti | | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1968 | Cooper Car Company | Cooper T86B | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | F | Brian Redman | | 3 | | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1968 | Cooper Car Company | Cooper T86B | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | F | Vic Elford | | | | | | 4 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | Ret | 8 | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1968 | Cooper Car Company | Cooper T86B | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | F | Johnny Servoz-Gavin | | | | | | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1968 | Cooper Car Company | Cooper T86B | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | F | Robin Widdows | | | | | | | Ret | | DNA | | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1968 | Cooper Car Company | Cooper T86B | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | F | Lucien Bianchi | | | 3 | 6 | Ret | | | Ret | | NC | NC | Ret | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1968 | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing | McLaren M5A | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Denny Hulme | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 3 |
| 1968 | Joakim Bonnier Racing Team | McLaren M5A | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Joakim Bonnier | | | DNQ | Ret | 8 | | Ret | | 6 | Ret | NC | PO | | | | | | 10th | 3 |
| 1969 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P138 BRM P133 BRM P139 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | | RSA | ESP | MON | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | CAN | USA | MEX | | | | | | | 7 | 6th |
| 1969 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P138 BRM P133 BRM P139 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | Jackie Oliver | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6 | | | | | | | 7 | 6th |
| 1969 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P138 BRM P133 BRM P139 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | John Surtees | Ret | 5 | Ret | 9 | | Ret | DNS | NC | Ret | 3 | Ret | | | | | | | 7 | 6th |
| 1969 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P138 BRM P133 BRM P139 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | Bill Brack | | | | | | | | | NC | | | | | | | | | 7 | 6th |
| 1969 | Owen Racing Organisation | BRM P138 BRM P133 BRM P139 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | George Eaton | | | | | | | | | | Ret | Ret | | | | | | | 7 | 6th |
| 1969 | Reg Parnell Racing | BRM P126 | BRM P101 3.0 V12 | G | Pedro Rodríguez | Ret | Ret | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 6th |
| 1970 | Owen Racing Organisation Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P139 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | MEX | | | | | 23 | 7th |
| 1970 | Owen Racing Organisation Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P139 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | Pedro Rodríguez | 9 | Ret | 6 | 1 | 10 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 4 | Ret | 4 | 2 | 6 | | | | | 23 | 7th |
| 1970 | Owen Racing Organisation Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P139 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | Jackie Oliver | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | Ret | NC | Ret | 7 | | | | | 23 | 7th |
| 1970 | Owen Racing Organisation Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P139 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | George Eaton | Ret | DNQ | DNQ | | Ret | 12 | Ret | | 11 | Ret | 10 | Ret | | | | | | 23 | 7th |
| 1970 | Owen Racing Organisation Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P139 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | D | Peter Westbury | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | | 23 | 7th |
| 1971 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P160 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | | RSA | ESP | MON | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | | | | | | | 36 | 2nd |
| 1971 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P160 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Jo Siffert | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6 | 4 | 9 | DSQ | 1$^P$$^F$ | 9 | 9 | 2 | | | | | | | 36 | 2nd |
| 1971 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P160 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Howden Ganley | Ret | 10 | DNQ | 7 | 10 | 8 | Ret | Ret | 5 | DNS | 4 | | | | | | | 36 | 2nd |
| 1971 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P160 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Pedro Rodríguez | Ret | 4 | 9 | 2 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36 | 2nd |
| 1971 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P160 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Vic Elford | | | | | | | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | 36 | 2nd |
| 1971 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P160 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Peter Gethin | | | | | | | | 10 | 1 | 14 | 9 | | | | | | | 36 | 2nd |
| 1971 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P160 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Helmut Marko | | | | | | | | 11 | Ret | 12 | 13 | | | | | | | 36 | 2nd |
| 1971 | Yardley Team BRM | BRM P153 BRM P160 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | John Cannon | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | 36 | 2nd |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | | ARG | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Reine Wisell | Ret | | Ret | Ret | | Ret | | Ret | | 12 | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Howden Ganley | 9 | NC | Ret | Ret | 8 | DNS | | 4 | 6 | 11 | 10 | Ret | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Helmut Marko | 10 | 14 | | 8 | 10 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Peter Gethin | Ret | NC | Ret | Ret | Ret | DNS | Ret | | 13 | 6 | Ret | Ret | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Àlex Soler-Roig | Ret | | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | | Ret | Ret | 1$^F$ | Ret | 15 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | Ret | Ret | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Vern Schuppan | | | | | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Jackie Oliver | | | | | | | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Bill Brack | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1972 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160B BRM P153 BRM P180 BRM P160C | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Brian Redman | | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | | | | 14 | 7th |
| 1973 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160C BRM P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | | ARG | BRA | RSA | ESP | BEL | MON | SWE | FRA | GBR | NED | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | | | 12 | 7th |
| 1973 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160C BRM P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Clay Regazzoni | 7$^P$ | 6 | Ret | 9 | 10 | Ret | 9 | 12 | 7 | 8 | Ret | 6 | Ret | | 8 | | | 12 | 7th |
| 1973 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160C BRM P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Niki Lauda | Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | 5 | Ret | 13 | 9 | 12 | Ret | Ret | DNS | Ret | Ret | Ret | | | 12 | 7th |
| 1973 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160C BRM P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | 5 | Ret | 5 | 13 | 4 | 9 | | | 12 | 7th |
| 1973 | Marlboro BRM | BRM P160C BRM P160D | BRM P142 3.0 V12 | F | Peter Gethin | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | | | | 12 | 7th |
| 1974 | Team BRM | BRM P160E BRM P201 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | F | | ARG | BRA | RSA | ESP | BEL | MON | SWE | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | | | 10 | 7th |
| 1974 | Team BRM | BRM P160E BRM P201 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | F | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | 5 | 10 | 2 | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 10 | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | NC | DNQ | | | 10 | 7th |
| 1974 | Team BRM | BRM P160E BRM P201 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | F | François Migault | Ret | 16 | 15 | Ret | 16 | Ret | | Ret | 14 | NC | DNQ | | Ret | | | | | 10 | 7th |
| 1974 | Team BRM | BRM P160E BRM P201 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | F | Henri Pescarolo | 9 | 14 | 18 | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 10 | | Ret | | | | | 10 | 7th |
| 1974 | Team BRM | BRM P160E BRM P201 | BRM P142 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | F | Chris Amon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 9 | | | 10 | 7th |
| 1975 | Stanley-BRM | BRM P201 | BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | | ARG | BRA | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | SWE | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | USA | | | | 0 | -' |
| 1975 | Stanley-BRM | BRM P201 | BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | Mike Wilds | Ret | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | -' |
| 1975 | Stanley-BRM | BRM P201 | BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | Bob Evans | | | 15 | Ret | DNQ | 9 | 13 | Ret | 17 | | | Ret | Ret | | | | | 0 | -' |
| 1976 | Stanley-BRM | BRM P201B | BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | BEL | MON | SWE | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | JPN | | 0 | -' |
| 1976 | Stanley-BRM | BRM P201B | BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | Ian Ashley | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | -' |
| 1977 | Rotary Watches Stanley-BRM Stanley-BRM | BRM P207 BRM P201B | BRM P202 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | MON | BEL | SWE | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | USA | CAN | JPN | 0 | -' |
| 1977 | Rotary Watches Stanley-BRM Stanley-BRM | BRM P207 BRM P201B | BRM P202 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | Larry Perkins | | Ret | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | -' |
| 1977 | Rotary Watches Stanley-BRM Stanley-BRM | BRM P207 BRM P201B | BRM P202 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | Conny Andersson | | | | | DNQ | | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 0 | -' |
| 1977 | Rotary Watches Stanley-BRM Stanley-BRM | BRM P207 BRM P201B | BRM P202 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | Guy Edwards | | | | | | | | | | DNPQ | | | | | | | | 0 | -' |
| 1977 | Rotary Watches Stanley-BRM Stanley-BRM | BRM P207 BRM P201B | BRM P202 3.0 V12 BRM P200 3.0 V12 | G | Teddy Pilette | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | DNQ | DNQ | | | | 0 | -' |