Goodwood Pays Tribute to Sir Jack Brabham

10 September 2016

Fifty years ago Sir Jack Brabham became the only man to win the Formula One World Championship in a car bearing his own name. It was a feat that will, almost certainly, never be repeated. The same year he came first in the Formula Two event at Goodwood, the last major international race before the Sussex circuit was closed. Racing returned to the track 18 years ago with the first of its popular Revival meetings and now Goodwood celebrates the life of the great Australian with a tribute that includes a parade by over 30 of his most significant racing cars.

Many of the Brabham family are attending the event. Significantly Sir Jack’s youngest son, David – himself a Le Man 24-hours winner – is one of the drivers. The sight of him with period helmet in his father’s 1966 World Championship winning Brabham-Repco BT24 rolls back the years.

‘When you think what he achieved, he was hugely influential,’ said David as he prepared to climb into the BT24. ‘These cars are part of motor sport history. It is pretty cool to be driving a Brabham-Repco around here.’ David also pointed out the significance of Goodwood to his father, Sir Jack having his first race in Britain at the Sussex circuit.

Revival host Lord March agreed stating. ‘Jack has a special place in the history of motor racing at Goodwood. Over the years he must have driven more laps of Goodwood than any other top line driver, not only winning races but also testing his cars here through the 1960s and 1970s.’

The line up of cars for the parade includes many examples of the Brabham marque from the earliest BT2 Formula Junior to the BT33 with which he scored his final Grand Prix victory – the South African - in 1970. Sir Jack’s undoubted influence on the Indianapolis 500 is illustrated by the Cooper T54 with which he took on the mighty Indy roadsters, as well as the BT25 with which he contested the 1969 500. There are, naturally, plenty of Coopers, Jack having been closely associated with the make before setting up his own company, as well as other cars from his illustrious career. Drivers include fellow World Champions John Surtees and Sir Jackie Stewart while Sir Stirling Moss is also playing tribute to his great rival, as passenger in one of the Aston Martin endurance racers.

(Ends)

Editor’s Notes

To access the Goodwood Media Centre for rights free images please click here:

Username: g00dw00d   Password: st3rl1ng

For all Media enquiries, please contact Laura Gilbert-Burke at the Goodwood Motor Sport Press Office:

Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755000

E-mail: laura.gilbert-burke@goodwood.com 

Goodwood Motor Sport on social media:

YouTube: http://youtube.com/goodwoodtv

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/goodwoodrrc

Twitter: http://twitter.com/goodwoodrrc