Aussie Jack Brabham was the first (and so far only) driver to win an F1 championship in a self-built car. The feat seems unimaginable to beat nowadays, but at least the Brabham racing team has been reborn, with a fresh twist on the old formula and Jack’s son David at the helm.
What they’re trying to create is the first ever open source racing team. It may seem strange at first, but it has already been put in motion through an Indiegogo crowdfunding page (make sure you check it out – it’s got detailed information on how they wish to proceed).
Basically, they will, through a series of online, cloud-based apps, allow fans, drivers, engineers and backers to take part in the running of the team.
First, they’re trying to raise £250,000 to upgrade the Brabham-Digital portal, add the facility to “watch and contribute to the team’s initial stages of development,” as well as “vote and interact on certain team decisions from the offset, plus video and audio updates on the teams progress.
In the longer run, the aim is to get into serious motor racing (at £2.5 million raised they can get a factory and first car, while at £8 million the aim is to become “first ever community-sponsored motor racing team in an FIA discipline, with a team in next year’s WEC.”)
We wish them the best of luck!