The weight of mainstream media coverage of Jack Brabham's death in Sydney at the age of 88 is perhaps surprising for a man who last raced in Formula 1 44 years ago. But it won't take much delving into the obituaries to discover why his inspirational story has struck such a chord beyond the confines of the sport he played such an influential part in.
Headline achievements like three Formula 1 world championships, one at the wheel of a car he built and designed himself, and a knighthood rank him up there with the very best. But when you consider he managed this against some of the very finest drivers the sport has ever seen and in a golden - and dangerous - era for motor racing it begins to take on fresh perspective. Mark Webber may tweet under the handle @AussieGrit but you can argue it was Brabham who set that particular template, the 'When the flag drops...' title for his autobiography perhaps summing up his approach to racing and his natural determination.
There will be plenty to read about Brabham today - the Formula 1 website has a detailed biog if you need to swot up - so we'll leave you with a few pictures from LAT and invite you to join the conversation already running in General Motorsport if you wish to pay your respects to one of the sport's true greats.
 Hockenheim, 1970 |
 Monaco, 1959 (winner) |
 Zandvoort 1959 (finished second) |
 Brands Hatch, 1964 |
 Nurburgring 1966 (winner) |
 Le Mans 1958 |
 Silverstone 1960 (winner) |
 L-R: Chapman, Brabham, Clark in 1968 |
 Monaco 1961 |
 Monza 1966 |
[Sources: Formula 1 official website, Photos: LAT Photo]
