Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Silverstone Festival 2025 - Competition Cars on Friday the 22nd of August, The Wing, Silverstone Circuit, NN12 8TN. The partnership between racer John Sharrigan and engineer Paul Fitzgerald-Brahma - only ever resulted in two cars. The first was a clone of the Peter Revson Lotus 23B that passed through the Speedway Custom Garage in Allston, Massachusetts where they were both working during the early 1960s. However, the second was a bespoke creation with which the pair hoped to contest the 2-litre class of the inaugural 1966 CanAm Series. Christened the B-2, it was based around a simple ladder-type chassis skinned with stressed panels and stiffened by semi-monocoque sidepods (the latter also housing fuel bags). Featuring specially fabricated frame fittings and four-wheel independent suspension, the sports racer was initially powered by a Fiat-Abarth 2-litre engine allied to a VW-type transaxle. The work of Sikorsky design engineer, Neil Chivaroli, its unique fibreglass body was both lightweight and aerodynamic. Despite reputedly weighing just 960lbs with a full complement of fluids onboard, the car never fulfilled its CanAm potential. Like many entrants, Brahma lost interest when the organisers decided to eliminate the equal points system for over 2-litre and up to 2-litre class winners (a move prompted by George Follmer's amazing performances during the 1966 season aboard his Lotus-Porsche hybrid).
Reconfigured to compete in the SCCA's B-Sports Class National Championship, the B-2 lost one of its fuel cells but gained a Ford BDA 2-litre unit and Hewland transaxle. Campaigned extensively in this guise over the next few seasons, it achieved some notable results including finishing second overall (and thus beating all but one of the over 2-litre cars) at both the Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen Nationals during 1969. Still a competitive proposition some three years later, the B-2 carried John Sharrigan to the 1972 SCCA National Championship B-Sports Class title.
Well respected in the historic motorsport world, the car's current owner acquired it as an ally monocoque before restoring it and slotting in a 2-litre Lotus Twin-Cam (producing over 200bhp) mated to a Hewland MK8 gearbox. The car has raced in the HSCC Guards Trophy in the 'invitation class' as the seller hasn’t got round to issuing it any papers.
We’re informed it could be competitive against Chevron B8s and similar cars and it has achieved a 1min 38. 5 at Brands GP and a 51. 4 around Brands Hatch Indy. We understand that there is around three hours of running time on the engine and the car was last raced in anger in 2023.
Offering simply amazing value for money when you consider the car's specification and what it would take to replicate, the Brahma is priced to sell. Looking like a mini McLaren M6B and obviously unique, this well built little sports prototype has an interesting story to tell and deserves to be part of the UK sports racing scene for years to come.
