Understated race-car design great and co-founder of Brabham Racing Developments Ron Tauranac died at home in Queensland, Australia, today (17 July). He was 95.
With Jack Brabham he formed Motor Racing Developments, which quickly became Brabham, and the pair conquered the world as Tauranac’s car designs won the 1966 and 1967 Formula One World Championships.
Born in Kent, his family moved to Australia when Tauranac was a young child. He began building specials in the late 1940s, having been a pilot during the later stages of the Second World War. He met the Brabhams through the sport and when Black Jack headed to England to forge his racing career Tauranac later followed, having been in touch and offering development ideas for Brabham’s Cooper. Initially his work included fettling and improving British sports cars at Jack Brabham Conversions.
He took a half share of Brabham Racing Developments in 1965, and with the F1 engine regulations expanded from 1.5-litres to 3-litres the team capitalised with the use of a Repco V8 as others were left behind. Brabham won four of the nine races in Tauranac’s BT19, all in a row at Reims, Brands Hatch, Zandvoort and the Nürburgring to claim the title comfortably from John Surtees.
Denny Hulme and Brabham took two wins apiece the following year to finish first and second in the championship – only for the Ford DFV to appear and change the game in dominant fashion. Not even the talents of Tauranac, Brabham and new recruit Jochen Rindt could turn the tide.
Tauranac chats with Colin Chapman and Ronnie Peterson (left); celebrating Jack Brabham's final Grand Prix win
