Brabham Bt46b fan Car - 1978

About vehicle
Ground-effect wind currents introduced in 1977, the lotus 78 was the first ground-effect racing car. It employed a design that created wind currents to suck the car down to the road surface. Brabham designer gordon murray then created an aerodynamic triangular monocoque with a narrow nose. But when he tried to add a ground effect, the cylinder heads of the rear-mounted alfa romeo engine projected into the area where the air currents should be. excuse my dust murray then installed a transmission-driven rear fan 2 12 ft. In diameter. He claimed that the fans primary function was to cool the radiator and hence the engine rather than to increase the cars aerodynamism, which would have been a violation of the racing rules. Flexible skirts sealed off the engine area to protect it from the fans effects. Two of these bt46b cars were built. in their only racing appearance, the bt46b driven by niki lauda won the swedish grand prix by 34 seconds, lapping all but two cars and leaving a wake of windstrewn debris in its path. Racing officials allowed the result to stand but banned the bt46b from racing again.
Driving a bt46b in the models only race, niki lauda handily won the 1918 swedish grand prix. Tim fan car ivas then banned from competition.