Geoff Brabham

Geoff Brabham (born 20 March 1952) is an Australian racing driver. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States.

Geoff Brabham
Brabham at the 2014 Indianapolis 500
Nationality Australian
Born (1952-03-20) 20 March 1952
Sydney, Australia
Retired2001
Related toJack Brabham (father)
Matthew Brabham (son)
Gary Brabham (brother)
David Brabham (brother)
Sam Brabham (nephew)
Lisa Thackwell (sister in law)
Australian Super Touring Championship
Years active1995–1997
TeamsBMW Motorsport Australia
Starts48
Wins9
Best finish2nd in 1995 & 1997 Australian Super Touring Championship
Previous series
1974
1975
1978
1979
1981–87, 1990, 1992, 1994
1979–81
1987–92
1989–94
1993–2001
Australian Formula Ford
Australian Formula 2
British Formula One Championship
Formula Super Vee
Indycar

Can-Am
IMSA GT Championship
IROC
V8 Supercar
Championship titles
1975

1979
1981
1988
1989
1990
1991
Australian Formula 2 Championship
SCCA Super Vee Championship
Can-Am
IMSA GTP Championship
IMSA GTP Championship
IMSA GTP Championship
IMSA GTP Championship
Awards
2004Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

Racing career

CART

He raced successfully in CART early in his career, finishing 8th in 1982, 1984 and 1987 with nine podiums. In ten appearances in the Indianapolis 500, he had a best result of fourth in 1983 and fifth in 1981.

Sports car racing

His greatest source of success was in various forms of sports cars, winning four IMSA GTP titles (1988–1991) when racing for Nissan, and one Can-Am championship (1981).

Brabham also won the 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans driving one of the factory Peugeot 905 alongside French drivers Éric Hélary and Christophe Bouchut. His younger brother David Brabham had won the GT class in the race driving a Jaguar XJ220 for Tom Walkinshaw Racing, but the team was later disqualified for technical infringements. Geoff Brabham became just the third Australian driver to win Le Mans after Bernard Rubin (1928) and Vern Schuppan in 1983. David Brabham would also go on to win Le Mans in 2009, also driving for the factory Peugeot team.

Touring car racing

Later in his career, Brabham returned to Australia, where he was runner-up in the 1995 and 1997 Australian Super Touring Championship, and won the 1997 Bathurst 1000 Super Touring race driving a BMW 320i alongside brother David. The pair initially finished second behind BMW Motorsport Australia teammates Paul Morris and Craig Baird, but a blunder by the team left Baird in his car at the final pit stop which meant that by the end of the race, the Kiwi driver had breached the race regulation which limited any one driver to a maximum of three hours continuous driving. This caused their disqualification and handed the win to the Brabham brothers.

Brabham's 1990 IMSA GTP car

Brabham dabbled in V8 Supercar drives in his native Australia throughout his career. He is still one of the few drivers to win his first race, Sandown 500 in 1993. He started eleven races for one victory.

Stock car racing

Brabham took two race victories in the International Race of Champions stock car series (1992 and 1993), both at Michigan. He made his only NASCAR Winston Cup Series start at the first ever Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis in 1994, driving for Michael Kranefuss. Brabham crashed in the second half of the race.

Personal life

He is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham. He has two younger brothers; Gary and David. Geoff teamed with David to win the 1997 Bathurst 1000 in a BMW, becoming the only brothers to have combined to win the race. Although the most successful of the second generation of racing Brabhams, unlike his siblings he did not compete in World Championship Formula One.

Married to Roseina Brabham, a multi-time jet-ski champion, Brabham has retired from competition himself to focus on his son Matthew's racing career. After a successful karting career, Matthew moved into international open-wheel racing and the Road to Indy ladder; he is also a two-time Stadium Super Trucks champion.

Awards

He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America[1] in 2004.

Racing career

Brabham in 1990
Season Series Position Car Team
1973 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series 7th Elfin 620 Ford Jack Brabham Ford
1974 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series 3rd Bowin P6F Ford
1975 Australian Formula 2 Championship 1st Birrana 274 Ford Grace Bros - Levi's Racing Team
1976 Shellsport F3 Series 11th Ralt RT1 Toyota
1976 BP Super Visco F3 Series 8th Ralt RT1 Toyota
1977 Vandervell F3 Series 6th Ralt RT1 Toyota
1977 BP F3 Series 4th Ralt RT1 Toyota
1978 British Formula One Championship 24th Boxer PR2 Hart Boxer Cars
1979 Formula Super Vee Championship 1st Ralt RT1 Volkswagen
1979 Canadian-American Challenge Cup 15th Hogan HR-001 Chevrolet Hogan Racing
1980 Canadian-American Challenge Cup 3rd Lola T530 Chevrolet Racing Team VDS
1981 Canadian-American Challenge Cup 1st Lola T530 Chevrolet
VDS 001 Chevrolet
Racing Team VDS
1982 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 8th March 81C Cosworth Bignotti-Cotter Racing
1982 Canadian-American Challenge Cup 14th Frissbee GR2 Chevrolet Rick Galles Racing
1983 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 21st Penske PC-10/82 Cosworth
March 83C Cosworth
Racing Team VDS
Kraco Racing
1984 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 8th March 84C Cosworth Kraco Racing
1985 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 15th March 85C Cosworth Kraco Racing
1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 12th Lola T8600 Cosworth Galles Racing
1987 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 8th March 87C Honda Galles Racing
1988 IMSA GTP Championship 1st Nissan GTP ZX-T Nissan Motorsport
1989 IMSA GTP Championship 1st Nissan GTP ZX-T Nissan Performance Technology
1989 International Race of Champions 10th Chevrolet Camaro
1990 IMSA GTP Championship 1st Nissan GTP ZX-T
Nissan NPT90
Nissan Performance Technology
1990 International Race of Champions 11th Dodge Daytona
1991 IMSA GTP Championship 1st Nissan R90C
Nissan NPT90
Nissan NPT91
Nissan Performance Technology
1991 International Race of Champions 7th Dodge Daytona
1992 International Race of Champions 6th Dodge Daytona
1993 International Race of Champions 6th Dodge Daytona
1994 International Race of Champions 11th Dodge Avenger
1995 Australian Super Touring Championship 2nd BMW 318i Paul Morris Motorsport
1996 Australian Super Touring Championship 4th BMW 318i Paul Morris Motorsport
1997 Australian Super Touring Championship 2nd BMW 320i Paul Morris Motorsport
1999 Shell Championship Series 31st Ford AU Falcon Glenn Seton Racing
2001 Shell Championship Series 36th Ford AU Falcon Steven Ellery Racing

Complete USAC Mini-Indy Series results

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos Points
1978 David Psachie PIR1 TRE1 MOS
12
MIL1
6
TEX MIL2 OMS1 OMS2 TRE2
1
PIR2 13th 290
1979 TEX1
19
IRP
3
MIL1
3
POC
4
TEX2
5
MIL2
2
MIN1
6
MIN2
6
3rd 824

Complete USAC Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos Points
1981-82 INDY
5
POC
2
ILL
DUQ
ISF
INDY
28
2nd 1,310
1982–83 ISF DSF NAZ INDY
4
4th 600
1983-84 DSF INDY
33
38th 5

CART

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
1981 Kraco Racing Penske PC-7 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX1
9
MIL1 ATL1 ATL2 MIS 27th 14
All American Racers Eagle 81 Chevrolet V8 RIV
Ret
MIL2 MIS2 WGL MEX
9
PHX2
1982 Pentax Super March 81C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX1
Ret
ATL
Ret
            8th 110
March 82C MIL1
7
CLE
6
MIS1
7
MIL2
10
POC
4
RIV
Ret
ROA
Ret
MIS2
3
PHX2
Ret
           
1983 Team VDS Penske PC-10 Cosworth DFX V8t ATL INDY
4
MIL CLE 21st 13
Wysard Racing March 83C MIS1
Ret
ROA POC
Kraco Racing March 83C RIV
Ret
MDO MIS2
12
LVG
Ret
LS
Ret
PHX
1984 Kraco Racing March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
2
PHX1
Ret
INDY
Ret
MIL
17
POR
2
MEA
3
CLE
8
MIS1
9
ROA
5
POC
14
MDO
Ret
SAN
Ret
MIS2
11
PHX2
Ret
LS
5
LVG
5
8th 87
1985 Galles Racing March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
6
INDY
Ret
MIL
12
POR
Ret
MEA
Ret
CLE
2
MIS1
Ret
ROA
15
POC
Ret
MDO
13
SAN
4
MIS2
16
LS
Ret
PHX
12
MIA
Ret
15th 41
1986 Galles Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX1
10
LBH
3
INDY
12
MIL
Ret
SAN
11
MIS2
11
LS
6
PHX2
Ret
MIA
Ret
12th 64
Brabham-Honda V8t POR
7
MEA
Ret
CLE
Ret
TOR
14
MIS1
Ret
POC
12
MDO
Ret
ROA
Ret
1987 Galles Racing March 87C Brabham-Honda V8t LBH
Ret
PHX
8
INDY
Ret
MIL
12
POR
Ret
MEA
4
CLE
Ret
TOR
DNS
MIS
8
POC
2
ROA
2
MDO
7
NAZ
12
LS
5
MIA
3
8th 90
1989 Team Penske Penske PC-18 Chevrolet 265A V8t PHX LBH INDY
Wth
MIL DET POR
Ret
CLE MEA TOR MIS POC MDO ROA NAZ LS 39th 0
1990 Truesports Lola T89/00 Judd AV V8t PHX LBH INDY
19
MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MIS DEN VAN MDO ROA NAZ LS 41st 0
1991 King Racing Truesports 91C Judd AV V8t SRF LBH PHX INDY
Ret
MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MIS DEN VAN MDO ROA NAZ LS 44th 0
1993 Team Menard Lola T93/00 Menard V6t SRF PHX LBH INDY
Ret
MIL DET POR CLE TOR MIS NHA ROA VAN MDO NAZ LS 50th 0
1994 Team Menard Lola T93/00 Menard V6t SRF PHX LBH INDY
DNQ
MIL DET POR CLE TOR MIS MDO NHA VAN ROA NAZ LS NC -

Indianapolis 500

Brabham (#07) at the 1994 Brickyard 400.
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1981 Penske PC-9 Ford Cosworth DFX 15 5 Kraco Racing
1982 March 82C Ford Cosworth DFX 20 28 Bignotti-Cotter
1983 Penske PC-10 Ford Cosworth DFX 26 4 Team VDS
1984 March 84C Ford Cosworth DFX 8 33 Kraco Racing
1985 March 85C Ford Cosworth DFX 9 19 Galles Racing
1986 Lola T86/00 Ford Cosworth DFX 20 12 Galles Racing
1987 March 87C Brabham-Honda 14 24 Galles Racing
1989 Penske PC-18 Chevrolet 265A Withdrew Team Penske
1990 Lola T89/00 Judd AV 19 19 Truesports
1991 Truesports 91C Judd AV 22 20 Truesports
1993 Lola T93/00 Menard V6 (t/c) 29 26 Team Menard
1994 Lola T93/00 Menard V6 (t/c) DNQ Team Menard

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1989 Nissan Motorsport Chip Robinson
Arie Luyendyk
Nissan R89C C1 250 DNF DNF
1990 Nissan Performance Technology Inc. Chip Robinson
Derek Daly
Nissan R90CK C1 251 DNF DNF
1993 Peugeot Talbot Sport Éric Hélary
Christophe Bouchut
Peugeot 905 Evo 1B C1 375 1st 1st

V8 Supercar results

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final Pos Points
1999 Ford Tickford Racing ECK ADL PTH PHI HDV SAN CDR SYM WIN OPR QLD
8
BAT
10
31st 360
2000 Larkham Motor Sport
Rod Nash Racing
PHI PTH ADL ECK HDV CAN QLD WIN OPK CDR QLD
Ret
SAN BAT
Ret
NC 0
2001 Steven Ellery Racing PHI ADL ECK HDV CAN PTH CDR OPK QLD
6
WIN BAT
7
PUK SAN 36th 565

Complete Bathurst 1000 results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1974 WA Fisher (Holdings) Pty Ltd Bernie Haehnle Mazda RX-3 2001 – 3000cc 151 8th 3rd
1975 B S Stillwell Ford & Co Pty Ltd Mike Stillwell Ford Escort RS2000 B 141 12th 5th
1977 John Goss Racing Pty Limited Jack Brabham Ford XC Falcon GS500 Hardtop 3001cc – 6000cc 141 18th 9th
1993 Peter Jackson Racing David Parsons Ford EB Falcon A 154 6th 6th
1997 BMW Motorsport Australia David Brabham BMW 320i A 161 1st 1st
1998 Longhurst Racing Tony Longhurst Ford EL Falcon OC 157 8th 8th
1999 Ford Tickford Racing Neal Bates Ford AU Falcon 160 10th 10th
2000 Rod Nash Racing Cameron McConville Holden VT Commodore 105 DNF DNF
2001 Steven Ellery Racing Steven Ellery Ford AU Falcon 161 7th 7th

Sandown 500 results

Year Class Team Co-Drivers Chassis Tyres Laps Qual
Pos
Engine
1993 V8 Peter Jackson Racing David Parsons Ford EB Falcon B 161 8
Ford 5.0 L V8

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Patrick Tambay
Can-Am Champion
1981
Succeeded by
Al Unser, Jr.
Preceded by
Chip Robinson
IMSA GT champion
1987-1992
Succeeded by
Juan Manuel Fangio II
Preceded by
Derek Warwick
Yannick Dalmas
Mark Blundell
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1993 with:
Christophe Bouchut
Éric Hélary
Succeeded by
Yannick Dalmas
Hurley Haywood
Mauro Baldi
Preceded by
Craig Lowndes
Greg Murphy
Winner of the Bathurst 1000
1997
(with David Brabham)
Succeeded by
Rickard Rydell
Jim Richards
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