Monoposto

Nº 5

Jack Brabham

1959–60, 1966 World Champion

Overview

Sir John Arthur Brabham, known as Jack, was born in Hurstville, New South Wales, on 2 April 1926 and won three World Drivers' Championships, two with Cooper and one in his own car.1 No other driver has won the title in a car bearing his own name.1

He trained as an RAAF flight mechanic and began in midget cars in 1948.1 He died on the Gold Coast on 19 May 2014, aged 88.1

1959

Two wins, 4 points clear of Tony Brooks

Only a driver's best results counted in 1959. He scored 34 points in all, and 31 counted.

Pushing at Sebring

At the United States finale he ran out of fuel on the last lap and pushed the Cooper over the line for fourth, finishing four points clear of Tony Brooks.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1959

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

1960

Five wins, 9 points clear of Bruce McLaren

Five wins

He retained the title with Cooper, in the T53 he helped design.1 He won five races.3

Every Grand Prix finish, 1960

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

1966

Four wins, 14 points clear of John Surtees

Only a driver's best results counted in 1966. He scored 45 points in all, and 42 counted.

In his own car

He won in the Brabham BT19 with a Repco V8.1 At the Dutch Grand Prix he came to the grid in a false beard with a cane, a joke about his age.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1966

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

Image plates

5 photographs, in season order

Helmet

The helmet he wore in his 1966 title season, the year he won in his own car, is in the collection of The Henry Ford.8 By the end of the decade he was wearing a Bell Magnum.9

1959

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

1966

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

Three title cars

He helped design the Cooper T53, and won his last title in the BT19, from his own team.1

His 1959 Cooper T51, in the Donington Grand Prix Collection.

Ben Sutherland · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
1959
Cooper T51
1960
Cooper T53
1966
Brabham BT19

Road to the title

  1. 1948Australian Speedcar champion.1
  2. 1955Formula One debut at the British Grand Prix.1
  3. 1959–60World Drivers' Champion with Cooper.1
  4. 1966World Drivers' Champion in his own car.1
  5. 1970Last Formula One season.1

Records

  • Only driver to win the title in a car bearing his own name1
  • First post-war racing driver to be knighted1

Sources