Barnard studied engineering at Brunel and Watford Technical Colleges. His early experience was gained with Lola and McLaren. He went on to become one of the founder directors of the revitalised McLaren International Grand Prix team and in 1986 he left to establish a new UK-based design studio for Ferrari. Barnard was later at Benetton but he left to rejoin Ferrari, with the task of establishing an advanced design and manufacturing centre. He launched B3 Technologies in 1996.
Barnard’s designs are characterised by his meticulous attention to detail, his confidence to fully exploit the properties of advanced materials and his ability to think beyond accepted manufacturing solutions. Highlight works include the striking Chaparral 2K, which won the 1980 Indianapolis 500, and F1’s first carbon fibre monocoque for McLaren, which spawned a succession of highly competitive machines. Barnard also pioneered a high-nose aerodynamic layout for Benetton and designed the Ferrari type 640, with its radical aerodynamics and revolutionary electro-hydraulic gearchange mechanism.
B3 Technologies remained active in the racing world, with an increasing presence in aerospace, research, leisure and medical equipment. Projects have included an advanced Moto GP bike for Kenny Roberts, a carbon fibre gear box for F1, artificial limbs, lightweight beds for scanners, components for satellites and work in atomic research and deep-sea exploration.
Work by Barnard has been exhibited by and is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. The book The Perfect Car: The story of John Barnard, Formula 1’s most creative designer was published in 2018 by Evro Publishing.
