David Brabham will lead the tribute to his father, Sir Jack Brabham at the Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch this weekend.
The life and career of Sir Jack Brabham, who passed away on monday, will be celebrated with a special parade of cars built and driven by his very own Brabham team. The parade will be led by his son David.
David, is the youngest of Sir Jack’s three sons. He followed in his fathers footsteps and raced in F1, for two seasons. He will drive his father’s BT24 car, which took the team to it’s second World Championship.
David said he has been touched by the response around the world following his father’s death. “Having seen the response from around the world, it’s only hit me now how big a name he was.”
He also paid tribute to the UK, his adopted country. “Dad knew that if he wanted to achieve something great he had to come to England, and set up a base here and it was a second home for him. He used to enjoy coming to the UK and spent a lot of time here.”
It’s also a fitting tribute that the parade will be held at Brand Hatch, a track where Sir Jack won on his way to the 1966 title. David is all to aware of the connection his father had to the Kent venue.
“Brands Hatch really was a second home for the family,” David said. “Both the main straight and the Brabham hospitality suite are named after him. When I first came here I lived at Brands Hatch for six months with (older brother) Gary, we were both instructors and the family has won a lot here, so it’s a very special place for us.”
David hopes he can keep his emotions in check when he takes to the track in the BT24. “To come here and drive one of dad’s old Brabham cars at a time like this after his passing – it’s going to be difficult to keep the emotions at bay, that’s for sure.”
