24h Le Mans
This past weekend of the Australian Grand Prix which kicked off the 2018 season of the Formula 1 World Championship, Geoff, winner in 1993, and David, in 2009 (both with Peugeot), were welcomed into the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame, and their father was elevated to the rank of Legend.
Of the Brabham family, the father, Sir Jack, and both sons, Geoff and David, have triumphed at Le Mans. The patriarch won the only F1 Grand Prix ever held at the Bugatti circuit, in 1967, and the sons have each claimed the top step on the podium at the 24 Hours.
Despite three F1 World Champion titles, including one in 1966 with a car in his name, a unique achievement, Sir Jack Brabham's career at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was relatively brief with just three appearances - in 1957 and 1958, then again in 1970 - all ending in retirements. But, two of his sons, Geoff, the eldest, and David, the youngest, took up the torch quite successfully.
The first carved out the majority of his career in the U.S., with namely 10 participations in the Indianapolis 500 and two wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring (1989 and 1991). Yet, it was in endurance racing that he really made his mark, earning four straight titles with Nissan in the IMSA from 1988 to 1991. Unfortunately, his collaboration with the Japanese marque at Le Mans amounted to retirements in 1989 and 1990. The Australian, born in 1952, had to wait until his recruitment by Peugeot in 1993 to reach the top step on the podium, along with two young Frenchmen, Eric Hélary and Christophe Bouchut.
In the meantime, David Brabham made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota in 1992, taking the start of the race 18 times through 2012, first in the head class, then in GT, giving him two class victories with Aston Martin in 2007 and 2008. The following year, the Wimbledon native and winner of the first edition of Petit Le Mans in 1999, claimed the top step on the overall podium with the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP he shared with Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz.
These results have allowed brothers Geoff and David to be inducted into the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame, and their father Sir Jack to be officially christened a Legend (like Mick Doohan, five-time World Champion on two wheels).
PHOTO (Copyright - Jean-René Roger, ACO/Nikon): David Brabham, with Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz, claimed the top step on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2009.
