Geoff Brabham

Geoff Brabham
Brabham at the 2014 Indianapolis 500
Nationality	Australian
Born	(1952-03-20) 20 March 1952 Sydney, Australia
Retired	2001
Related to	Jack Brabham (father) Matthew Brabham (son) Gary Brabham (brother) David Brabham (brother) Sam Brabham (nephew) Lisa Thackwell (sister in law)
Australian Super Touring Championship
Years active	1995–1997
Teams	BMW Motorsport Australia
Starts	48
Wins	9
Best finish	2nd 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
2004	Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

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

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 team mates 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 Jetski Champion - Brabham has retired from competition himself to focus on his son, Matthew Brabham's career who is also following in the family interest. After a successful karting career, moved into international open-wheel racing. Matthew set new records on his way to the USF2000 Championship and Pro Mazda IndyCar Ladder Series Championships. 22-year-old Matt made his Indianapolis 500 debut with an Australian owned team, PIRTEK Team Murray in 2016 finishing 22nd. He also competed in the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis in 2016, finishing 16th

Awards

He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 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

American Open-Wheel racing results

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

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 EL 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 win

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

• Driver Database stats
• Conrod Profile - V8 Supercar stats.
• Racing Reference - US Stats
• CART/USAC Results