Geoff Brabham has an enviable record in sportscar racing and motorsport in general. The son of three time F1 champ Sir Jack Brabham had racing in his blood but, at some point he had to separate himself from his father’s legacy – something all the Brabham boys did at some point.
Geoff has won major races with his brothers – all of whom were successful in their own rights. We all know what David Brabham has done with himself of late – an ALMS title and outright Le Mans win. It is also a fact that Geoff was the only Brabham brother not to race in F1 (that’s if you can call Gary’s outings with Life and David’s outings with Simtek and an ailing Brabham team anything).
Throughout his career, Brabham entered 307 races, winning 41 of them. 32 wins were in sportscars and made part of 65 sportscar podiums. He also scored 35 pole positions. To demonstrate his status, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in America in 2004.
But Geoff found success elsewhere. He found success in the American motorsport scene – arguably when it was at its peak in the 1980s but also was a major player in IROC competition, Australian Super Touring Cars, Indycar, V8 Supercars and also started a NASCAR race.
Here is a list of his achievements:
His stats include:
Le Mans 24 Hours
3 starts (1987, 1990, 1993)
Best start – 4th
Winner in 1993
Sebring 12 Hours
4 entries 1989-1992
2 wins in 1989 and 1991
Daytona 24 Hours
7 entries – 1989-1995
Best finish of 2nd in 1991
IMSA Camel GTP
1983-1992
90 starts
28 wins
8 race winning streak in 1988
Champion in 1988, 89, 90, 91
World Sportscar Championship
2 races in 1987
Best finish – 2nd
Can-Am
1979 – 1982
24 starts
3 wins
Champion in 1981
CART
11 seasons
86 starts
1 Pole
0 Win
9 Podiums
2nd – best finish
Indy 500
10 starts
4th – best starting spot
4th – best finishing spot
Rookie of the Year, 1981
NASCAR
1 start in 1994
Started 18th, finished 38th
IROC
2 wins
V8 Supercars
11 starts (1993 – 2001)
1 win (Sandown 500, 1993)
Australian Super Touring Championship
47 starts
9 wins
12 pole positions
2nd in 1995 and 1997 Championships
Bathurst 1000
7 starts from 1993 - 2001
1 Win in 1997
Highlights and Championships
- Second in Australian Super Touring Championship 1997.
- Winner of AMP Bathurst 1000 1997.
- Second in Australian Super Touring Championship 1995.
- Winner of the Le Mans 24h in the C1 class 1993.
- IMSA Camel GTP champion 1991.
- IMSA Camel GTP champion 1990.
- IMSA Camel GTP champion 1989.
- IMSA Camel GTP champion 1988.
- Can-Am champion 1981.
- Third in Can-Am 1980.
- Robert Bosch/Valvoline Formula Super Vee champion 1979.
- Third in USAC Mini-Indy Series 1979.
- Third in Formula Ford Australia 1974.
Sam Tickell