onoured as a Member of the Wall of Sporting Legends on 22 October 2009
The Brabham name is synonymous with Grand Prix motor racing and to his day, sir Jack Brabham the first driver in history to be knighted for his services to motorsport remains one of the racing's most popular personalities.
Born on 2 April 1926 and Hurtsville, Sydney, the triple world champion is the only Formula One driver to have won a world title in a car of his own construction - the BT19 - which he drove to victory in 1966. The following year the Brabham team won its second successive world championship when New Zealander Denny Hulme drive the BT20 to victory.
Brabham established himself in Australian oval racing before switching to road racing in the early 1950's. His driving style matured dramatically at this time, and in 1955 he moved from Australia to Europe to drive for Charles and John Cooper that partnership resulted in Brabham‘s 1st two championship titles in 1959 and 1960. It was also in a Cooper that sir Jack shook the establishment at Indianapolis, qualifying the first modern mid-engined car at the 500 and finishing ninth. What seems an anomaly at the time would in fact lead to a revolution in the Brickyard and the demise of the classic indie roadsters.
In 1962 so Jack teamed up with fellow Australian Ron Tauranac, now of Ralt Racing fame, to produce the first of the Bradman Marquee, the Bradman BT-3. This particular car debuted in the '62 German Grand Prix and became the first of many successful Brabon cars that have run in Formula One up until the last few years. Sir Jack also introduced Honda to four-wheeled motor sport, their engines powering the successful Brabham Formula two chassis in 1966.
Sir Jack scored his final Grand Prix win in South Africa in 1970 before calling his gallant motor racing career to an end at 44 years of age. Sir Jack has never lost contact with the motor racing world and still competes in many different venues. His three sons Geoff, Garry and David have all proven themselves in their own professional racing careers.
Sir Jack Bradman's Racing Record
Formula One world constructors champion 1966 and 1967
14 Grand Prix wins 13 Formula One pole positions
10 second and 7 third place finishes
Australian of the year 1966
Knighted for his service to motorsport
In 1979 only driver and Formula One history to win the championship in a car of his own construction
Contested 126 Grand Prix from 1955 to 1970
British Saloon Car Championship in 1965
Won both the Australian and New Zealand Grand Prix three times
Four-time winner of the European Formula Two championship
