Today, on what would have been his 100th birthday, Goodwood is delighted to announce that Goodwood Revival (18 – 20 September) will celebrate the life and career of Sir Jack Brabham, the legendary driver, engineer and innovator.
The celebration will mark a number of anniversaries, including the centenary of his birth and the 60th anniversary of his third Formula 1 World Championship title.
Brabham competed in Formula 1 from 1955 to 1970, and, in 1966, secured his third World Championship behind the wheel of a car of his own make, a feat that remains unmatched.
With the team he co-founded in 1960, Brabham distinguished himself as both a pioneering engineer and an extraordinary driver. His technical ingenuity helped reshape Formula 1, influencing engineering, team management and driver development. His achievements and commitment to the sport were later recognised in 1979, when he became the first Formula 1 driver to receive a knighthood.
Revival will bring together up to 50 cars from Brabham’s career for a track parade taking place across the weekend. The collection will include some of his championship-winning cars, alongside some of the Formula 1, touring and sports cars that carried the Brabham name up to 1970 – including cars raced by Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney, Denny Hulme, Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt.
Jack’s connection to Goodwood goes back to the early stages of his career, when he tested and raced the Cooper-Alta in the early 1950s at the Motor Circuit. He went on to win the Formula 2 race at Goodwood in 1966, and later returned – both to the Festival of Speed in 1996 and the Circuit after it reopened in 1998, making several appearances at the Goodwood Revival.
The tribute will recognise not only Jack’s extraordinary career but the early achievements of the Brabham team, and Goodwood is working closely with David Brabham to ensure the celebration reflects both the family’s perspective and the enduring legacy of the Brabham name.
David Brabham, Jack Brabham’s son and racing driver, said: “My father, Sir Jack, achieved so much throughout his career, from winning his third Formula 1 Championship at the age of 40, to co-founding one of the most influential racing car manufacturers of its time. It means a great deal to our family to see his legacy honoured in this way at Goodwood Revival, especially with so many of his cars coming together. It’s been a joy working with The Duke and his team at Goodwood to bring the 60th anniversary celebration to life.”
The Duke of Richmond, CBE DL founder of the Goodwood Revival said: “Jack Brabham is a true motorsport legend – a triple world champion who uniquely won the championship in a car bearing his own name. He is also one of a select few drivers who was a superstar at Goodwood in its first incarnation, and again in the modern era. He became a regular at the Festival of Speed, and when he raced at Revival, he had lost none of his fierce competitive streak, despite being in his 70s by the time the circuit reopened. It’s incredibly special that the Brabham family are still so closely connected to Goodwood, with David regularly attending all three of our events. We’re much looking forward to celebrating Jack’s career and enduring legacy at the Revival later this year, with many of the wonderful cars he created coming together for the occasion.”
