Three generations of Sir Jack Brabham’s family will welcome his most successful racing car into membership of the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame this Thursday.
The Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame is the highest honour in Australian motorsport, and the Brabham family is considered Australian motorsport royalty – with Sir Jack originally inducted in 2016, and his sons David and Geoff Brabham were also made members in 2018.
The induction ceremony will occur at 1pm on Thursday 5 March on the Fan Forum Stage of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix, in the Lakeside precinct of Albert Park.
Sir Jack Brabham and his Repco Brabham BT19 won the 1966 Formula 1 World Championship, the only time ever that the title has been claimed by a driver with a car of their own construction.
Lady Margaret Brabham, Sir Jack’s son David Brabham, and grandson Sam Brabham will be in attendance to see the BT19 become the first car to join the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
Fittingly, the Repco Brabham BT19 will be the 100th inductee, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the unique achievement, and is also the centenary of Sir Jack’s birth (2 April 1926).
Also present will be Edith Irving, widow of Phil Irving who designed the Repco engine, and Jann Heslop, daughter of Ron Tauranac who built the BT19.
This exclusive honour will complete the Brabham family and team’s circle with David Brabham, Geoff Brabham, Phil Irving, and Ron Tauranac all members of the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame, in addition to Sir Jack Brabham’s Legend status.
On average, less than one hero per year from all branches of motorsport – karting, speedway, drag racing, motorcycling and motor racing, have been inducted since motorsport’s long and storied history in Australia.
Seven-times Supercars Champion Jamie Whincup will be welcomed in this year’s Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame intake, joined by Australian motorsport official Garry Connelly AM, World Motorcycle Endurance Champion Shane Watts, drag racing legend Santo Rapisarda, and 11-time national motorcycle champion, the late Ken Blake.
The Repco Brabham BT19 is to be given the honour of completing a solo lap of the Albert Park circuit immediately before the start of this Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.