Key Results and Team History

Team BRM Was formed in 1998 by successful Formula 2 competitor Bronte Rundle, with the intention of running a 1-car attack on the 1999 Australian Formula 3 series.

Initially starting with only three team members, Owner Bronte Rundle, Team Manager Ian Richards and Chief mechanic Peter McKeough, and running under the guise of BRM Motorsport, team BRM has quickly grown into the most professional and successful Formula 3 team in Australian Formula 3 history.

After a difficult learning year with Mark Rundle behind the wheel (the team was forced to run a 24mm restrictor on an engine designed for 26mm), BRM Motorsport looked to the year 2000 for their first chance at the Formula 3 crown.

After importing a new Dallara F398 from leading British Outfit Carlin Motorsport, the team signed promising young Queenslander Peter Hackett to drive the new car, alongside the existing F396 to again be steered by Mark Rundle. The Hackett – F398 combination gelled quickly and scored it’s first of many eventual podiums in just the second race of the season.

Darren Palmer was signed by the team to complete the remainder of the season, and he did so in style – snaring 3 race victories and numerous Pole Positions en route to an excellent 4th place in the series. Rundle, too, was regularly on the podium by season’s end and completed the year in 6th place outright.

The team took another huge step forward with the signing of New Zealand off-road and Formula Ford star Daynom Templeman to take the wheel of the Dallara F396 in 2001. Second year Driver Darren Palmer stayed with the team after his highly successful rookie season and looked set to continue his strong run of results.

Templeman’s season ended with 3 race wins and third in the championship, whilst Palmer, after starting the year slowly, finished with a rush, scoring wins in the last two rounds to complete the year 2nd in the championship.

An off season name change between 2001 and 2002 saw the team’s name changed to team BRM (incorporating the logo still used today), and principal sponsor A.C.E Embroidery was signed to provide team uniforms and a corporate range for sale.

Two new ex-German F3 Dallara F301 chassis were purchased at the start of the year, whilst Victorian Formula Vee star James Manderson was signed to drive for the team. Darren Palmer returned to the team for the third consecutive year to steer the other new Dallara Chassis.

2002 was the most successful year in team history, with Manderson completing a DNF Free season as series champion, scoring a season high 6 race wins en route to the crown. Palmer scored two race wins to end the year 3rd in points after a season classed as the toughest ever year in Australian Formula 3 competition.

Manderson was immediately snapped up by Swiss Racing Team in Europe, and completed the majority of the 2003 season with some strong results for the team, despite a meagre budget.

Team BRM once again expanded their operation for the 2003 season, running three cars after an ex-German series Dallara F301 was purchased during the off season. Returning driver Darren Palmer took over the new car, whilst new drivers Karl Reindler and Matt Fitzgerald were to steer the teams two other F301’s.

The year was noteworthy for the emergence of Reindler as a force in Australian Motorsport, the then 18-year-old West Australian scoring his first ever F3 podium at the Super fast Phillip Island circuit, and backing it up with a second at the following Winton Round.

Team BRM also unearthed more talent in youngster Ian Dyk, who drove with the team in the final round at Wakefield Park replacing an injured Reindler. The team finished 6th (Reindler), 7th (To the consistent Fitzgerald) and 10th (Palmer, who departed BRM mid year).

2004 was a watershed year for team BRM, with the team having their most successful ever year, doubling their efforts of 2002. ‘03’s most impressive rookie Karl Reindler returned for his second year with team BRM. Joining Reindler was 16-year-old New Zealander Nic Jordan, who was to drive the Dallara F398 Speiss Opel, driven successfully in the hands of Darren Palmer in previous years.

Reindler ended the year as team BRM’s second Australian Formula 3 champion, scoring five race wins and crushing the field in the Eastern Creek round of the series – showing his and the team’s true potential.

Jordan was a revelation, continuing the trend of young drivers succeeding in the team BRM atmosphere. Jordan won 13 races from 16 starts and took the teams first ever Trophy Class title with a round to spare.

2004 also marked the first time team BRM embarked on an international campaign, competing regularly in the developing Asian Formula 3 series. Despite being newcomers to the series, the team impressed Asian regulars with their pace and professionalism, and proved that 2005 would show team BRM as true challengers for the Asian title.

2005 saw Team BRM guide Michael Trimble to a strong second in the championship, with race wins along the way for both Trimble and Ian Dyk. Neil McFadyen and Karl Reindler also placed BRM cars on the pole position on a number of occasions as the team continued to lead the way in Australian Formula three.

2005 also witnessed the birth of the team's Formula Ford operation, experienced racer Mark Rundle guiding a number of young drivers including Shane Wright and Jason Vince to their first Formula Ford starts.

2006 saw expansion, Two brand new RF06 Van Diemen's joining a stable of two (and sometimes three) F304 Dallara F3 cars in Australia's two top open wheel series.

At the Clipsal 500, in Adelaide, and on their Formula Ford debut Team BRM Driver Ben Clucas put his Van Diemen onto the podium in a stunning performance - despite the car only arriving days before the race.

In the Australian Formula 3 Championship, Clucas won 11 of the first 12 races and gave Team BRM their first Australian Drivers Championship.

2007 saw more success, young Italian driver Marco Mapelli joining the team and racing to a top-five finish in the championship.

A new partnership with Opes Prime forged towards the end of the season brought driver James Winslow and former F3 frontrunner Barton Mawer into the Team BRM fold - resulting in a double success at Symmons Plains in Tasmania - including a win for Mawer in the inugural Formula 3 SuperPrix race at the Launceston circuit.

Despite dominating a majority of the 2007 championship the title proved elusive, and the team entered 2008 high on confidence and keen to win their fourth title - doing so in emphatic fashion with British driver James Winslow.

The team also won the Nikon Indy 300 F3 challenge final race on the streets of the Gold Coast, and announced its full-time return to Formula Ford with Mygale chassis in 2009.

The team has now won more than 80 races at the highest level and is responsible for winning more than one third of all Australian F3 races held since 1999.