The car in which Australia’s Sir Jack Brabham became the only driver-constructor ever to win the Formula 1 World Championship is to be inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
It is the first time a car, instead of a person, has been uplifted into the highest honour in Australian motorsport.
The ceremony will occur at 1pm AEDT on Thursday 5 March at the FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2026 at Albert Park, Melbourne.
Members of Sir Jack’s family, along with those of the co-builders of the Repco Brabham BT19, will attend.
Sir Jack’s 1966 world title victory in a car carrying his own name and designed by his own team is a feat unlikely ever to be replicated.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the milestone title victory, coinciding with the centenary of Sir Jack’s birth (2 April, 1926).
“The Repco Brabham becomes the 100th inductee, joining an exclusive gathering of the most successful and impactful figures in the sport,“ said John Smailes, Chair of the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
“It is the most important race car ever produced, the product of a rare combination of Australian genius.”
Sir Jack is already a Legend of the Hall of Fame and his co-builders, Ron Tauranac AO (chassis) and Phil Irving MBE (engine) are members.
“They built their car in a triumph of determined engineering with the support of Australian industrialist Sir Charles McGrath (CEO of Repco),” Smailes said.
“They won both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles at their first attempt against the might of Ferrari, Cooper, BRM, and Lotus.
“They repeated the triumph in 1967 – this time with New Zealander Denny Hulme beating team-mate Jack to the title by just five points.”
The Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame is an exclusive honour-roll made up of less than one inductee for each of the 125 years motorsport has occurred in Australia.
EDITORS NOTE:
WHAT:The 2026 Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
WHEN: 12:30pm arrival for 1:00pm start, Thursday 5 March 2026 (pictorial opportunity before ceremony)
WHERE: The Fan Stage, Lakeside Precinct – north of the Melbourne Walk, Albert Park.
