Leslie Brooke

Brooke began his career in 1937 with a self-built special based upon a Riley Imp chassis, with an 1,100 cc (67 cu in) MG engine.[2] He entered several events that season but without much success.[2] However, he continued to develop the car over the subsequent two seasons and in 1939, using a Riley 1,750 cc (107 cu in) straight-six engine, achieved three podium finishes at Brooklands, together with a second place at Shelsley Walsh[2] and another second place in the International Trophy at Silverstone.[3]

Brooke's career was then interrupted by World War II. He resumed thereafter, initially with his special, but subsequently purchased an ERA B-type.[2] With this car he won the Grand Prix des Frontières in 1946[4] and hillclimb events.[2]

In 1947, he finished second in the Swedish Winter Grand Prix[5] in February, but retired from the Vallentuna F1 race held later the same month[6] and from the Jersey F1 race held at Saint Helier.[7] Brooke then purchased an ERA E-type which he used to compete in the Reims Grand Prix retiring after five laps after which he shared Fred Ashmore's ERA B-type which also retired after 33 laps.[8] At the Grand Prix d'Albi, Brooke resumed with his own B-type but having qualified sixth,[9] retired after 18 laps with an engine problem.[10] At the Nice Grand Prix, he finished seventh with the B-type having qualified 20th, and last. He achieved the first-ever race finish (fourth) for the E-type in the 1947 British Empire Trophy at Douglas Circuit[2] and at the 1947 French Grand Prix, qualified in eighth position with the same car but retired after only one lap with an engine problem.[11] He later sold the car back to ERA.[2]

In 1948, Brooke began the season with the B-type, retiring from the Jersey F1 race in April,[12] but claiming third-place in the British Empire Trophy in May,[13] followed by fourth place in the inaugural Zandvoort Grand Prix.[14] He then moved to a Maserati 4CLT, entered by Scuderia Ambrosiana and finished 11th in the Grand Prix d'Albi[15] and 11th in the 1948 Italian Grand Prix under his own name,[16] but was forced to retire from the Monza Grand Prix[17] and the Penya Rhin Grand Prix.[18]

In 1949, Brooke finished seventh in the Grand Prix d'Albi with the Maserati,[19] did not progress past the heats at the International Trophy and retired from the 1949 Italian Grand Prix.[1]

Brooke retired from the 1950 San Remo Grand Prix after eight laps. He subsequently reduced his participation in circuit racing and began competing in rallying with a Triumph TR2.[2] He also competed in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1955 when the Standard Motor Company entered several of their Eight and Ten models.[20]

Brooke made an appearance at the 1954 Goodwood F1 race with a Connaught A-type-Lea Francis. However, having set fastest time in qualifying, he failed to start the race.[21]