[1][2] The previous Brabham BT16 forerunner initially had a Cosworth SCA, BRM, or Holbay MAE engine.

On 20 March 1965, at the Formula Two meeting at Silverstone, it was equipped with the Honda RA300E engine.

Two cars, F2-18-66 and F2-19-66, were used by the factory Brabham team with revised Honda RA302E engines, which now gave 150 bhp at 11,000 rpm.

[5][6] In 1966, Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme achieved a total of 11 wins in 12 races with the Brabham-Honda BT18.

Brabham won the 1966 Trophées de France championship and Hulme was runner-up.