The car in which Australia’s Sir Jack Brabham became the only driver-constructor ever to win the Formula One World Championship is to be inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
It is the first time a car, instead of a person, has been uplifted into the highest honour in Australian motorsport.
The ceremony will occur on Thursday March 5 at the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix 2026 at Albert Park, Melbourne.
Members of Sir Jack’s family, along with those of the co-builders of the Repco Brabham BT19, will attend.
Sir Jack’s 1966 world title victory in a car carrying his own name and designed by his own team is a feat unlikely ever to be replicated.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the milestone title victory, coinciding with the centenary of Sir Jack’s birth (2 April, 1926).
Wayne Bryant, chief merchandise and growth officer, Repco Australia said inducting the Repco-Brabham BT19 to the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame is a great tribute to the outstanding people who created this landmark car, which conquered Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati and others to write one of Australia's greatest success stories.
“The fact that Repco created the BT19’s V8 Formula 1 engine remains a source of inspiration for all of our team members across Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
John Smailes, chair of the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame said the Repco-Brabham BT19 F1 car joins an exclusive gathering of the most successful and impactful figures in the sport.
“It is the most important race car ever produced, the product of a rare combination of Australian genius,” he said.
David Brabham, MD Brabham Group Limited and son of Sir Jack Brabham said the partnership between Brabham, Tauranac and Repco is a proud chapter in Australian engineering and motorsport.
“Inducting the Repco-Brabham BT19 to the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to their combined achievements,” he said.
The Repco-Brabham BT19 will join its chassis designer, Ron Tauranac AO, and its Repco engine designer, Phil Irving MBE, as a Hall of Fame member.
Sir Jack Brabham was appointed Legend status in the Hall of Fame in 2018, one of only four to receive this highest honour.