Reawakening a British Icon: working with BRM.

2021 - 2025
BRITISH RACING MOTORS
BRANDING | PR | SOCIAL MEDIA | LAUNCHES | COLLABORATIONS | EVENTS

[YEAR]
[CLIENT]
[SERVICE]

Reviving a Legacy.

When the Owen family approached us, their mission was clear: to breathe new life into British Racing Motors (BRM), Britain’s first Formula One team. Dormant for decades, BRM was more than a racing marque; it was a symbol of British engineering prowess and racing heritage. The three grandsons of Sir Alfred Owen sought to honor their grandfather’s legacy and reintroduce BRM to a contemporary audience.

Our role was to lay the foundational strategy for this revival. We developed comprehensive brand guidelines, a distinctive tone of voice, and a brand book to ensure consistency and respect across all communications and partnerships. This framework was crucial in aligning all stakeholders and preserving the brand’s integrity.

GFWILLIAMS
GFWILLIAMS
CHRIS KNOX
RURAL SCOTLAND

[PHOTOGRAPHY]
[RETOUCHING]
[STUNT DRIVER]
[LOCATION]

Bridging past and present.

To connect BRM’s storied past with the present, we produced a series of short films, including The Re-Awakening and The Chrysalis. These films not only celebrated BRM’s rich history but also showcased the meticulous craftsmanship involved in building the new P15 V16 continuation cars. The films received critical acclaim, with The Chrysalis being shortlisted for the International Motor Film Awards.  

We also spearheaded BRM’s digital resurgence. Through strategic social media campaigns, we grew their following to over 21,000, with 32% of the audience under 35. Weekly newsletters kept the community engaged, providing updates on events, builds, and behind-the-scenes insights, all while respecting the brand’s heritage and appealing to both longtime enthusiasts and new fans.

145,000+

REACH ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE FIRST WEEK

2,500

NEW FOLLOWERS WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS

90+

ARTICLES OF PRESS COVERAGE

Solving an unexpected challenge:
too good to be true?

The launch made a strong impact. However, an unexpected challenge arose: people were assuming the images were AI-generated. A flattering reaction in many ways, but also a credibility challenge, particularly for a brand introduced by a car photographer and launched entirely online. GFWilliams asked us to step back in and come up with a creative way to put the AI rumours to rest - without over-explaining or losing the brand’s edge.

We partnered with Calvert Studios to produce a stripped-back, behind-the-scenes shoot that brought the car into a physical, tangible space. We captured stills and video that showed the car - complete with George doing a piece to camera. No more doubting. It was undeniably real.

This second phase not only quelled the AI chatter, it gave us another wave of content - it became an opportunity to deepen the narrative. The second phase of content spotlighted the link between George’s 15 years behind the lens shooting the world’s most iconic cars and his decision to channel that experience into building one of his own. It brought a new layer of authenticity to the brand and helped sustain momentum, strengthening credibility, trust, and connection within a fast-growing community.

What does a photographer know about designing a car?

[PHOTOGRAPHER]
[DRIVER]
[WEBSITE DESIGNER]
[SOCIAL MEDIA AGENCY]

GEORGE WILLIAMS
CHRIS KNOX
TILLY WILLIAMS
TILJO