Round 4 of the 2004 FIA Thoroughbred Grand Prix World Championship moves to Italy at the end of the month for the annual visit to the Coppa Intereuropa race weekend. A popular circuit with competitors, the grid boasts 25 cars spanning nearly 25 years of Grand Prix racing from Jackie Stewart's Tyrrell 001 to Keke Rosberg's Williams FW08.
Among the core group V8 Cosworth DFV-powered TGP regulars are two new arrivals to the championship. From the Hall & Hall motor racing stables come two thoroughbreds that will add a new sound to the roar away from the green lights.
Nick Rini (USA) brings his BRM P160 back to the scene of its greatest moment. Until last year, the ex-Peter Gethin car held the record at the track for winning the fastest ever Grand Prix back in 1971 when 4cars finished within one hundredth of a second of each other. The average speed in that race was 150.75 mph. Ironically, Beltoise was to win the slowest ever GP at a waterlogged Monaco in 1972. It was to prove to be the marques last win in F1.
Also on show is the BRM P180 driven by another American, Brad Krause. Fresh from the Monaco Historique event and Pau, this car won the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch in 1972 with Jean-Pierre Beltoise at the wheel. The model is notable in GP history as being the first to run sponsorship when it displayed Yardley and Marlboro livery in the 1970/71 seasons.
BRM (British Racing Motors) first appeared in 1956 and during '59, Rob Walker Racing team ran a BRM for Stirling Moss with some success, but it took the arrival of Graham Hill to the works team together with the change to the 1.5L V8 engine in 1962 to make BRM frontrunners. With Hill they won the driver's and constructor's titles.
The beginning of the team's downfall was brought about by the financial and logistical strain of the 1972 season. Phillip Morris Tobacco contracted BRM to run up to 5 Marlboro liveried cars in each race with 9 different drivers over the period. The crews struggled to keep the cars together as the year progressed and the season brought just 14 points and a dismal 7th place finish.
It will be a real treat to see these fantastic cars racing again and part of a grid full of their contemporaries. For those unable to travel to Milan, the races are being shown on MotorsTV and Sky's Sports' Race World programmes.
