GP: British Grand Prix
Date: 16 July 1955
Winner: Stirling Moss - Mercedes
The race was held at Aintree, the first time the name Stirling Moss appeared on the winner's trophy.
It was also the day Jack Brabham made his F1 debut at the wheel of a Cooper.
Born in Hurstville, Australia, on 2 April 1926, he was a mechanic before becoming a pilot with the Royal Australian Airforce. He emigrated to England with the help of John Cooper. Jack won the world championship three times, in 1959 and 1960 with Cooper and in 1966, he became the only driver to ever win a World Championship in a car bearing his own name.
He set up his own team in 1962 along with his friend, the designer Ron Tauranac. They produced single-seaters for several categories, all bearing their combined initials, BT.
Their maiden F1 win came at the 1964 French Grand Prix with Dan Gurney at the wheel.
Brabham, who picked up the nickname “Black Jack” because of his black hair and morose disposition, won that 1966 title in part helped by the dispute that saw title contender John Surtees split with Ferrari before the end of the season.
Denny Hulme won the title in 1967 at the wheel of a Brabham, leaving the team thereafter as relations with Jack were somewhat strained.
Brabham retired in 1969 after 123 Grands Prix, with 14 wins, 13 pole positions and 31 podium finishes.
He died on 19 May 2014.
He had three sons, Geoff, Gary and David, who all raced. The Brabham team? Sold to Bernie Ecclestone in 1972.
In 2025 Pirelli will hit the 500 F1® Grands Prix mark during the season.
Legacy of Speed series looks back at the fifty most significant Grands Prix from Pirelli's time on the F1 World Championship trail.
