The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed came and gone. Although we have largely focused on road vehicles such as the new M2 CS, it would not be mentioned that the Formula 1 machines. Of course, our focus is on those who are driven by BMW engines, but we also recorded a few shots of F1 cars from other brands. Among them is the extremely unusual six-wheeler Tyrrell P34 with a Ford Cosworth engine.
The A8 arrows should look familiar if they are familiar with BMW-F1 cars. It took part in the seasons of 1985 and 1986, albeit without remarkable success. The best result was a second place at the San Marino Grand Prix of San Marino 1985. In the heart of the car, which was designed by Dave Wass, the M12/M13 from BMW, a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, which was also used by Brabham and Benetton in the 1980s.
Speaking of Brabham, the BT52 shown below, drove in the 1983 season. The F1 machine was designed by none other as Gordon Murray and was driven by Nelson Piquet and Riccardo Patres. Piquet secured the title this year and ended in front of Renault Alain Prost and Ferraris René Arnoux, while Patesis took ninth place. Brabham BMW ended the third season in the championship designers.
The M12/13 was outdated in 1989 when Formula 1 Turbocher engines banned. However, BMW returned 11 years later with the V10-at-driven Williams FW22 for the 2000 season. The 3.0-liter E41/4 was replaced the following year by the P80 series, which remained in use until 2005. From 2006 to BMWS exit from the F1 in 2009, the BMW Sauber cars ran a smaller V8, also part of the P80 series.
As far as another F1 return is concerned, this is unlikely in the near future. M. boss Frank van Meel, however, told us in the Concorso d’Elanza Villa d’Este that BMW does not ignore the sport: “We don’t ignore the formula. We are simply not participating. That is on purpose.”
Why? The BMW M CEO explained that the F1 offers a limited Tech transfer in street cars. That is why the motorsport division focuses on endurance racing instead and competes with the M -Hybrid -V8 in WEC and IMSA.
Photos: Hardy Mutschler
