Brian Hart

Brian Roger Hart (September 7, 1936 - January 5, 2014): A British racing driver and engineer whose legacy in Formula One came not from his brief driving career, but from the remarkable engines that bore his name. Trained in airframe and aero-engine design by Britain's De Havilland aircraft company, Hart's technical foundation proved invaluable when he later worked as an engineer at Cosworth during its formative years. Hart's passion for motor racing was ignited when he attended the 1949 British Grand Prix at Silverstone as a young boy. He began his racing career in the 1172cc Clubmans formula, where he dominated in 1959.

He then progressed to single-seater racing, becoming a race winner in Formula Junior, Formula 3, and Formula 2 machinery, though his single World Championship Formula One entry in 1967 did not result in a start. Recognizing that his true genius lay in engineering rather than driving, Hart founded Brian Hart Limited in 1969, initially focusing on servicing and tuning engines from other manufacturers for independent British teams. His Hart-tuned Ford FVA and BDA engines achieved remarkable success in Formula Two, with Ronnie Peterson winning the European title with an FVA in 1971 and Mike Hailwood capturing the championship with a BDA in 1972. Hart's entry into Formula One came in 1981 when he developed a turbocharged version of the 420R for Toleman's entry into the World Championship.

The partnership's finest moment came at the rain-soaked 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, where a young Ayrton Senna took second place in a Hart-powered Toleman, nearly winning before the race was stopped. By 1992, Hart had designed his first V10 engine, the Type 1035, securing an exclusive two-year deal with Jordan Grand Prix. This partnership yielded good results, notably Rubens Barrichello's third place at the 1994 Pacific Grand Prix. However, financial pressures in the increasingly expensive world of F1 led Tom Walkinshaw Racing to acquire Brian Hart Ltd.

and merge it into their Arrows team, ultimately leading to Hart's departure from the sport he had served with such distinction.