British Racing Motors V16

The British Racing Motors V16 was a supercharged 1.5-litre (90.8 cu. in.) V-16 cylinder racing engine built by British Racing Motors (BRM) for competing in Formula One motor racing in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Designed in 1947 and raced until 1954–55, it produced 600 bhp (450 kW) at 12,000 rpm, although test figures from Rolls-Royce suggested that the engine would be able to be run at up to 14,000rpm.

BRM P15 V-16
Overview
Manufacturer British Racing Motors
Production1947–1955
Layout
Configuration135° V16
Displacement1,487.76 cc (91 cu in)
Cylinder bore49.53 mm (1.95 in)
Piston stroke48.26 mm (1.90 in)
Valvetrain32-valve, DOHC, two valves per cylinder
Combustion
SuperchargerTwo-stage centrifugal
Fuel systemCarburettor
Oil systemDry sump
Output
Power output400–600 hp (298–447 kW)
Dimensions
Dry weightapprox. 200–230 kg (441–507 lb)

The very complex engine was exceptionally powerful for the time, but it initially proved a disappointment, possessing poor reliability so that cars either did not start or failed to finish races. In the 1952 Formula One season, after BRM withdrew their V16 engined cars before a race in Turin while attempting to enlist Juan Manuel Fangio, leaving only Ferrari as the main contestants with no effective competition, the racing organisers abandoned the Formula One series and ran the remaining year's races as Formula Two.

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