A genius of Formula 1, two of his cars and the memory of Lole Reutemann 50 years after his first victory

The Members Meeting in Goodwood, England, is one of the best classic car competition events in the world and brings together the richest legacy left by world motorsport. And year after year, there is a Argentine connection.

The 2024 edition had significant and unprecedented weight. Since, on the one hand, it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the first victory of Carlos Reutemann in Formula 1, one of the most desired and fair results in memory. And, on the other, it had the presence of the machine that led Lole to victory: the Brabham BT44from 1974.

But to the delight of any motorsport lover, the evolution of that car was also present, the BT44Bfrom 1975. By the way, two of the most aesthetic cars that F1 left in its entire history

Last March 30 marked 50 years since that majestic and long-awaited first victory in Formula 1 by Carlos Reutemann at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa. The combination that unites technological innovation, professional capacity and that pinch of good luck that crowns with the emotion of the result obtained after reaching the checkered flag first.

Innovation is the very essence of motorsports and competition is a factor inherent to human beings. Since its inauguration in 1950, Formula 1 has never stopped evolvingremaining the pinnacle of technological development in order to obtain that minimal advantage that can result in a triumph.

Genius assembling work groups with his faithful friend Herbie Blash, Bernie Ecclestone’s right-hand man and organizer from the first to the last days of the team, the brilliant young South African engineer and designer named Gordon Murray and the talented Argentine pilot Carlos Reutemann joined forces.

Reutemann had just shined in the powerful Formula 2 of the time and nailed the pole position on the day of his debut in the top category that hot 1972 Argentine GP, which marked the return of F1 to the country, after several years of absence.

The Brabham BT42, Murray’s first creation as head of design, in 1973, evolved the following year with the BT44, remembered for its white color with its penetrating lines and in which he applied the innovative variable geometry suspension.

The higher the speed, the more it stuck to the ground and stiffened the suspension, providing optimal performance in the corners and an aerodynamic improvement on the straights. This configuration was key to Lole’s victories in South Africa, Austria and the United States, consolidating it as one of the revelations of the season.

1975 brought the BT44B, which we not only remember for its lines, but also for the famous advertising with the striking Martini colors, becoming one of the most attractive F1 in the history of the category.

That year saw the victory of Carlos Pace in his native Brazil and then, late in the season, enjoying the overwhelming victory of the Lole in the German GP on the imposing and tortuous Nürburgring circuit, well known as the “green hell” .

Recently, the Goodwood Members Meeting was held in its 81st edition. There the two BT44s from Gordon Murray’s private collectionrepresenting the 1974 and 1975 specifications, respectively.

Outside of everything that happened that Saturday and Sunday at the Goodwood circuit, it is always worth emphasizing and showing what has a strong historical connection with our country: the Argentine Connection.

The 1974 BT44 has chassis number BT42/2 and the 1975 “B” specification BT44 is a replica that Gordon Murray himself had built by copying the original BT44B from the Ecclestone collection, and of course, using Murray’s own original plans.

As a tribute, the day after the sad news of the death of the Lole (July 7, 2021), the Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​began, the same one that two years later was surprised with another Argentine participation, the Pronello Huayra Ford.

But in that 2021 edition, each day of the famous event, from Thursday to Sunday, an emotional minute of silence was held and it was Gordon Murray himself who had a significant decal placed on his brand new BT44B to honor the memory of our idol recognized in everyone. “FOR CARLOS”.

Thanks to Dermot Walsh who restores and maintains the Gordon Murray Heritage collection.