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The prestigious Italian Grand Prix at the fabled Monza circuit is the scene of many significant landmarks in grand prix racing.
While Daniel Ricciardo will this weekend attempt to become the first Australian to win the Italian GP, the event already holds a special place in the nation’s motor racing history.
On September 4, 1966, Sir Jack Brabham was one of 11 (10 retired, 1 not classified) not to finish the 68-lap race, however his chief rivals headed by John Surtees also met the same fate.
Subsequently Brabham had clinched his third world championship and significantly the first in a car of his own manufacturer.
Even though there were two races remaining – Watkins Glen and Mexico – Brabham, who had led for four laps, was crowned the champion.
Youngest son David Brabham, who took part in a special commemoration at Zandvoort last weekend, recalls another highlight of his famous dad’s career.
“He wrapped it up with some races to go which obviously was big news back then,” David Brabham told Speedcafe.com
“Even then Monza was regarded as something special, particularly with the Italian fans and a Ferrari won so I think most people were very happy.
“I’ve done a couple of races there and you always know you’ve been there with all the history – it really hits you.”
Commemorations of significant moments in Sir Jack Brabham’s astonishing career have continued since his death aged 88 at the Gold Coast home he shared with wife Lady Margaret on May 19 this year.
“Since dad passed away I think there’s been a lot of focus on what he achieved and even myself, all these things keep coming up, it sort of highlights really what he did achieve in his grand prix days,” he said.
“It’s quite staggering really.
“Dad was all over the news when he died and his name was everywhere and at one time my son 14-year-old son Finn, turned around very innocently and said, ‘I didn’t know granddad was so famous’.”
