F1 News

On This Day: 2014 - Jack Brabham passes away.

On This Day: 2014 - Jack Brabham passes away.

19-05-2018 12:59

Sam Bytheway

On this day in 2014, Australian driver Jack Brabham sadly passed away at the age of 88/

Brabham was enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in his youth becoming a flight mechanic. 

He began his racing career in his home country in midget cars, before moving to Europe in 1955.

Brabham made his Formula One debut at the 1955 British Grand Prix at the age of 29, in a race won by Sterling Moss. It took Brabham four years to win his first race, taking the 1959 Monaco Grand Prix in his Cooper-Climax. 

It was 1959 that Brabham won his first F1 World Championship, before defending his title in 1960. 

In 1962, Brabham founded his own team, winning the 1966 championship in his own car. Becoming the first and only man to do so.

The Australian retired from F1 in 1970, winning his final race at the South African Grand Prix.

During his career, Brabham won three championships, competed in 128 races - winning fourteen of them. Brabham also managed 13 pole positions and 31 podiums in his 15 year career.

Brabham also competed in the Indy 500 and the 24 Hour of Le Mans race coming third in 1957.