24h Le Mans
Three-time Formula 1 World Champion and father of Geoff and David, both winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Sir Jack Brabham passed away Sunday, May 19th at the age of 88. He holds a place all his own in motorsports history.
In 1959 and 1960, Sir Jack Brabham became the first Formula 1 World Champion at the wheel of a rear engine single-seater (the legendary Cooper-Climax T51), then in 1966, the only one to be at the wheel of a car carrying his name. In 1961, his ninth place finish at Indianapolis initiated the rear engine revolution at Indy 500, as was the case in Formula 1 for his first two world titles.
He also participated three times at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1957 (15th in a Cooper), 1958 and 1970 (retired twice). That last year, his teammate was François Cevert. It was along with the Frenchman, at the wheel of a Matra, that Sir Jack Brabham won his last great victory at the Montlhéry circuit at the 1970 edition of the Paris 1,000 km, before going into retirement. The history of the Brabham dynasty at Le Mans has chiefly been created by two of his sons: Geoff and David won the 24 Hours with Peugeot, in 1993 and 2009, respectively. Today, the third generation is represented on the track by Matthew, Geoff's son, currently in Indy Lights as a very promising race driver in American motorsports.
Sir Jack Brabham was born April 2, 1926 near Sydney, Australia and had been an aeronautical mechanic before becoming a driver and manufacturer. It is both a pioneer of and a giant in motorsports history that has just left us. To his family and loved ones, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest expresses its greatest condolences.
