Sir Jack Brabham: dead at 88

Brabham was the first driver to prove Australians could cut it on the world motorsport scene, heading to Europe to try and make his mark in Formula 1 in the late 1950s.

He would win his first two world titles aboard a Cooper-Climax, becoming the sport's first world champion driving a rear-engined car. After waning success with Cooper, Brabham struck out on his own and founded the eponymous Brabham team. Combining with design genius Ron Tauranac, and engines designed, built and developed in Australia, Brabham's cars conquered the world.

In 1966, Brabham became the first and only man to win the world championship in a car bearing his own name. It is a feat unlikely to ever be replicated.

Misfortune saw another couple of potential titles slip through his fingers before he retired from Formula 1 at the end of 1970. He made several appearances in sportscars, racing touring cars in Australia in the late 1970s, as well as making one-off appearances in celebrity races and in revival events at Goodwood.

Sir Jack also was the head of our greatest motorsport dynasty. His sons Geoff, Gary and David followed him into the sport with great success, Geoff and David making their greatest mark in sportcars and both winning the Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Their sons are now upholding the Brabham name across the world, Geoff's son Matthew winning his first Indy Lights race in America just one week ago, while David's son Sam is racing in Formula Ford in Great Britain.

Brabham, who had been in ill-health for some time, is survived by his three racing sons and their families, and his wife Lady Margaret.