Jack Brabham

Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham was a renowned Australian racing driver and team owner. Born on April 2, 1926, in Hurstville, Australia, he began his racing career with midget cars, winning several championships in Australia and New Zealand. Brabham moved to the UK in 1955, joining the Cooper Car Company, where he contributed significantly to the development of rear-engine Formula One cars. He won his first World Championship in 1959, followed by another in 1960. Brabham is most famous for winning the 1966 World Championship in a car of his own design, the Brabham BT19, powered by a Repco engine. This achievement remains unique in Formula One history. He co-founded the Brabham team with Ron Tauranac, leading it to two Constructors' Championships. Brabham retired from racing in 1970 and returned to Australia, where he managed various business ventures. He was knighted in 1985 for his contributions to motorsport and passed away on May 19, 2014, at the age of 88.