Vale Sir Jack Brabham

Three-time formula one world champion Sir Jack Brabham has died, aged 88.

Brabham, a former Royal Australian Air Force mechanic, began his motorsport career on Australian speedway dirt tracks in the late 1940s.

He headed to Britain and joined the Cooper Racing Team, with which he won the 1959 and 1960 formula one championships.

But it was his own Brabham racing cars - designed and engineered with friend and fellow Australian Ron Tauranac - that led to him winning the 1966 championship.

Brabham is the only person to have won the formula one world championship in his own car.

He was born John Arthur Brabham on April 2, 1926, but was known as Jack and later picked up the nickname Black Jack.

Brabham is survived by his second wife, Lady Margaret, and sons to his first wife Betty - Geoff, Gary and David, each of whom has enjoyed success in motorsport.

Two of Brabham’s grandsons are also forging careers in motorsport.


THE RACING LEGEND FROM DOWN UNDER

Sir Jack Brabham's winning form

Formula One:

*F1 drivers champion: 1959, 1960 and 1966

*F1 constructors champion: 1966 and 1967

*Contested 126 F1 Grand Prix races 1955-1970

*F1 Grand Prix wins: 14

*First F1 Grand Prix win: 1959 Monaco Grand Prix

*F1 Grand Prix pole positions: 13

*F1 Grand Prix podium finishes: 31

*Only driver to win a Formula One world championship in a car of his own construction (1966, Brabham)

The rest:

*Four-time winner of the European Formula Two Championship

*Australian Grand Prix wins: 3

*Australian of the Year: 1966

*Knighted for his services to motor sport in 1979


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/ ... z329Sz2mgd

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http://www.jackbrabham.com/

Sir Jack Brabham Passes Away Peacefully, Aged 88

Sir Jack Brabham AO, OBE, triple Formula 1 World Champion, has died at the age of 88. Sir Jack passed away peacefully at his Gold Coast, Australia, home on Monday morning.

Formula 1 World Champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966 and double Constructors' Champion (1966 and 1967), Sir Jack was one of the most accomplished drivers and team owners in the history of the sport. The first driver to be knighted for services to motorsport, 'Black Jack' rose from racing midgets on dirt ovals in Australia to dominate global motorsport.

His first two titles in the Cooper Climax marked the end for front-engined Formula 1 cars. The third made him the only driver in history to win a World Championship in a car of his own manufacture, the Brabham BT19 – a feat unlikely to ever be repeated.

Acclaimed as a brilliant engineer, technological innovations brought about by the Brabham team helped to shape the sport today. Through his partnership with Ron Tauranac, over 500 Brabham racecars were built from the team's British Surrey base in the 1960s alone, while the Brabham name continued in F1 for 30 years.

Although Jack scored his final win in the 1970 South African Grand Prix, the legacy has continued with all three of his sons achieving their own global success, while third generation drivers Matthew and Sam are building their own notable racing careers.

A true Australian legend. RIP Sir Jack

RIP Sir Jack.2 this year already with Harry Firth as well.

The best there is no more to say