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Nickname: Peter Perfect Date of Birth: 26 February, 1945 Resided: Victoria, Australia Sons: James and Robert Daughter: Alexandra Occupation: Professional racing driver Team: Team Brock Vehicle: Holden Commodore (mostly) CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Bathurst Enduro: 9 wins, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987 Australian Touring Car Champion: 3 times, 1974, 1978, 1980 Runner-up: 5 times, 1973, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1990. Sandown Enduro: 9 wins, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984 Repco Round Australia Trial: Winner 1979 The five biggest wins at Bathurst 1979 - Brock/Richards Torana beat Janson/Perkins by 6 laps + 1m 36.5s 1975 - Brock/Sampson Torana beat Morris/Gardner by 2 laps + 1m 11s 1984 - Brock/Perkins Commodore beat Harvey/Parsons by 2 laps + 0.6s 1978 - Brock/Richards Torana beat Grice/Leffler by 1 lap + 2m3.4s

His achievements earned him the nickname "King of the Mountain". He was also dubbed "Peter Perfect" after holding more pole positions and winning more races than anyone since the start of the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1960. Brock’s pedigree in racing also ran in the family, his great-great-uncle Henry James the founder of the RACV and organiser of Australia’s first ever motorsport event. Brock debuted in a homemade sports sedan in 1967. The converted Austin A30 - built in a henhouse - put him on the map with more than 100 wins, including the Australian Sports Sedan Championship. The racing driver, who later became synonymous with Holden’s racing prowess, won his big break in 1969, when the new Holden Dealer Team’s manager Harry Firth offered him a seat in a Holden Monaro GTS 350. He was third in that race and three years later driving a Torana XU1, won his first Bathurst title. In 1980, Brock established the Special Vehicles unit, which went on to build 4000 highly sought-after "Brock Special" vehicles. Brock retired from full-time V8 Supercar racing in 1997, firmly establishing himself as one of Australia's sporting greats. The UK Motor Sport magazine rated Peter Brock as among the top 20 most exciting drivers of all time. Brock spent his "retirement" with charity fund-raising and targa-style tarmac racing. He also supported road safety initiatives and created the Peter Brock Foundation, which has a focus on helping disadvantaged youth. For a time, Brock was also on the Australian Grand Prix board, which he joined in 1998, and was sought for his skills as a motivational speaker.

He was doing what he loved to do but even so, it beggars belief that one week can claim two great Australian icons - both too young. My thoughts and sincere condolences go to his loved ones. Allan Moffat.

Brock was competing in the Targa West Rally at Gidgegannup about 30km from Perth. The Targa West Rally has racers racing against time over closed public roads and on special stages at race circuits. Brock's car was understood to be so far off the road at the time of crashing that witnesses say six competitors cars had driven past the crashed vehicle without noticing it. Brock's co-driver Mick Hone is said to be in critical condition after their Daytona Coupe hit a tree. Brock is experienced at driving the full roll-caged Daytona Coupe, described as an "odd looking" car that is all front and no back. Witnesses at the scene said a crash investigation unit was called before an ambulance had been despatched. Brock was 61 years old. No other cars are believed to have been involved. The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) said in a statement the accident occurred at about 1.50pm (AEST). Sixty-one-year-old Brock's co-driver, believed to Mick Hone, has been taken to hospital in a stable condition. CAMS said it will conduct a full investigation into the incident. In the meantime, CAMS and event officials are working with the relevant civil authorities. "On behalf of the motor sport community, CAMS offers its sincere sympathy to Peter's family and many friends," the statement said. Targa West is a tarmac special stage rally. Brock was a dominant figure in Australian motor sport, winning the Bathurst 1000, Australia's most prominent domestic motorsport event, a total of nine times through the 1970s and 80s. He won six Bathurst 1000 wins in seven years, including his victory in the 1979 event, which he won by a record six laps. He retired from full-time driving in 1997. Since 1997, he had made two return visits to Bathurst in 2002 and 2004 and returned to top-level touring car racing as a team owner of "Team Brock'' in 2002 in the V8 Supercar category. A year later he sold his share in the team to Kees Weel. In recent years, he occasionally competed in various motorsport events such as the Targa Tasmania.