The astute engine call behind Brabham’s unique F1 feat
At the ripe ‘old’ age of 40, Jack Brabham remained a competitive force – taking advantage of Formula 1 engine capacities doubling to capture a third world championship. In the second part of our four-part history of Brabham, DAMIEN SMITH charts the team’s emergence as a title-winning outfit before its sale to Bernie Ecclestone
The ‘old man’ with the long (fake) beard and walking stick gingerly waddled to the green and gold Formula 1 car sitting on pole position. Jack Brabham was all too used to the wise-cracks about his age, so couldn’t resist a comical retort. But behind the stunt and the good-natured laughter it triggered, there was also a dash of genuine niggle.
Yes, he’d turned 40 in April, and yes, before this season he hadn’t won a points-paying grand prix for almost six years. But look at him now, here at Zandvoort for the 1966 Dutch GP – already a winner twice and leading the standings.
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