Brabham BT30 (Chassis 25)

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Off the blocks – cars you thought you’d never see again

The penultimate chassis of the 26 Formula 2 Brabham BT30s produced was originally the Team Eifelland car, raced during 1970 by Rolf Stommelen and Dieter Quester: it was also the car in which Hans Stuck made his debut F2 race at Hockenheim.

Over the winter of 1970/71 Stommelen won the South American Temporada series in it, and the car raced again in ’71 before spending four years hillclimbing in Switzerland in the hands of Hans Wittwer.

It then lay dismantled and unused for nearly 30 years, finally passing to a German owner before Steve Worrad bought it in 2002.

“These cars don’t come up very often, says Worrad. “It was correct, but it was all in bits and a lot of it was missing.” However, the original engine and gearbox came with the car and Worrad started a two-year rebuild, which had to fit in around other work at his Maverick Motorsport operation.

“The chassis was untouched: I just couldn’t believe how original it was,” says Worrad, who had wanted a BT30 since seeing them race as a child.

With a major final effort the car was finished in time for the Oulton Park Gold Cup, when it ran strongly straight out of the box. Now returned to immaculate period condition, the car is a welcome addition to the Derek Bell Trophy field and should also take in some European F2 events in 2005.