Brabham won a mostly ordinary 1959 British GP from pole without the position ever being contested. His pole time was1m:58.0s but the surprise of qualifying was the second place on the grip snatched up by Roy Salvadori, driving the Aston Martin DBR4 .
Moss and McLaren had a very good battle for second, intensified further when Moss had an unscheduled pit stop that allowed McLaren through to second. Both Moss and then Mclaren set a lap time a second faster than Brabham’s pole time. Moss set a time of 1m:57.0s on lap 69, Mclaren matched it on lap 75. The battle continued to the line and they crossed it side by side within a half second of each other. Moss second, McLaren third.
Salvadori brought the DBR4 home in 6th place, it’s best placing to that point, and as it would turn out a position Aston Martin equalled just once but never bettered.
Stirling Moss had first served notice on the front engine GP cars when he drove a Rob Walker entered F2 Cooper T43 to victory in Argentina against a field of thoroughbred GP cars. But a scoffing Ferraris “horse behind the carriage” comment really came back to haunt him in 1959.
Developed out of the F2 T43 the T51 was Coopers first real attempt at an F1 car. The 2.5 Ltr Climax engine was not as powerful as those the top flight teams had but the chassis was so nimble and light the car was competitive. Although on the faster circuits like Monza the T51 was still out paced on any circuit that required good handling, brakes and acceleration the car was streets ahead. If there was a problem with the car it was to be found in the gearbox. Most of the cars retirements would be traced back to it.
Brabham Won in Monaco, and Britain, was second in Holland and took third places in France and Italy. Enough points to take the championship despite two retirements.
At the last race of the season, the US GP at Sebring, Jack Brabham ran out of fuel on the last lap. While he pushed his car across the line Bruce McLaren had already taken his T51 to victory. Brabham secured not only 4th place but the first drivers championship for a mid-engine car. Together they won the first constructors championship for a mid-engine car too!
McLaren’s victory at Sebring also made him the youngest ever GP winner, aged just 22 years old.
1/20th scale kit.
Built by Ian.
The resin body was primed and sprayed with Halfords acrylic car paints, straight from the rattle can. Humbrol enamels and Citadel acrylics were used for the details and small parts.
This model was built straight from the standard kit to make sure it all went together ok. Looks ok to me.
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