[Video] When Fangio raced Brabham in their greatest cars | GRR
In what was surely one of the greatest motorsport occasions of all time, at the respective ages of 66 and 52, Juan Manuel Fangio and Jack Brabham returned to the racetrack for one last showdown.
Their careers in Formula 1 crossed in the 1950s, although Brabham was busy trying to make a name for himself while the great Fangio was busy winning his third, fourth and fifth world drivers’ championships. But by the time their paths converged here in 1978 Brabham had forged his own legend as a three-time champion.
The pair were invited to participate in a ‘demonstration’ of sorts in the aftermath of that year’s Australian Grand Prix, but Fangio insisted he would only take part if it was a race.
And so it was that Fangio and Brabham lined up on the grid. The Argentine in his Mercedes-Benz W196, the car that he took to two world championships in 1954 and ’55, and Brabham in the Repco-engined Brabham BT19 that he drove to the world title in 1966. Both had eight-cylinder engines, the Mercedes a 2.5-litre straight-eight, the Brabham a 3.0-litre V8, and as they roared away from the line, you could tell this was going to be special.
Over three enthralling laps, during which both drivers looked to be pushing seriously hard around the Sandown circuit, they swapped positions on numerous occasions before finishing in formation. To see Fangio jump out of his car, unusually dressed in racing overalls that he never wore during his racing career, must have been quite the experience for the fans lucky enough to be there.
It reminds us of the many moments we’ve had here at Goodwood, where legends of motorsport are so often reunited with old four-wheeled friends. We can’t wait for action to get underway at the 81st Members’ Meeting.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: One of the greatest finishes in sportscar history
Lead images courtesy of Motorsport Images.