Grand Prix 1973 BT42

After two poor seasons, Grand Prix BT42 marked the start of teams's revival in Grand Prix racing. Leading driver only had two podium finishes, but the mood was now upbeat.

Chief designer took over the design office at MRD, and was allowed a clean sheet of paper to produce the 1973 Grand Prix BT42. To improve top speed, he used a triangular section monocoque, the sidepods each containing one fuel cell, with the third cell between the driver and engine. He revived the 'lobster-claw' idea of split front radiators, but used triangular housings with a chisel nose in between. The car had a short wheelbase and low centre of gravity, and the 1973-regulation deformable structures were built into the design.

The BT37 had been an update on an old design, but the BT42 was entirely new, and although the team's results were not dramatically better, the new design was full of promise. The Grand Prix M23, Grand Prix 72 and Grand Prix 006s were the leading cars of 1973, but the BT42 was not far behind them. Leading driver qualified fifth in Sweden and finished fourth; finished a fighting third in France; qualified fifth at Zandvoort; ran fourth in Germany; qualified fifth in Austria and finished fourth; qualified fourth in Canada; and then ended the season very well when he qualified second at Watkins Glen and finished third. Exciting new BT44s were ready for the start of 1974, so three of the four surviving BT42s were sold off. One of the four has been completely rebuilt to BT44 specification for historic racing, and a second has BT44 bodywork. These two, plus one standard-specification BT42 all appeared together at the Monaco Historics in 2008, while the fourth is a recent concours winner.