Four of motor racing’s elite honoured in Camden
Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Frank Williams, Jody Scheckter and Dario Franchitti inducted into Motor Sport Magazine’s Hall of Fame Motor Sport Magazine paid tribute to four inspirational motor racing icons this evening (Tuesday 15 February) at the Roundhouse, in Camden, by inducting them into the prestigious and annual Motor Sport Hall of Fame held in association with TAG Heuer. Sir Jack Brabham OBE, Sir Frank Williams CBE, Jody Scheckter and Dario Franchitti were all honoured with achievement awards on-stage in front of a star studded audience. Collecting the award on behalf of Sir Jack Brabham was his son David Brabham, with the legendary Sir Stirling Moss OBE making the presentation to his past racing comrade.Sir Jack Brabham is a true racing legend having won three Formula One World Championships in 1959, 1960 and 1966. He is the oldest surviving Grand Prix World Champion and in 1966 became the only man to ever win the F1 drivers’ title in one of his own cars, as he was the founder of the highly successful Brabham racing team. Legendary F1 commentator and fans’ favourite Murray Walker continued proceedings by very poignantly announcing Sir Frank Williams as an inductee, talking fondly about the endless passion and commitment to Grand Prix racing that the founder of the WilliamsF1 team has shown since the late sixties. Presenting to the third inductee, 1979 Ferrari F1 World Champion Jody Scheckter, the honour was bestowed on the South African racer by the CEO of TAG Heuer, Jean-Christophe Babin and five-time Grand Prix winner John Watson. Scheckter had a sensational career which included the talented driver racing for McLaren, Tyrrell, Wolf and Ferrari. He was the last driver to win a drivers’ championship for Ferrari until Michael Schumacher did so 21 years later.Completing the line-up of the 2011 Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame inductees was British three-time IndyCar Series champion, Dario Franchitti. Highly respected for all his achievements in America, Franchitti is also a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and undoubtedly Britain’s most successful motor racing export to the United States. The great and good of Formula One gathered for the awards, with personalities including Christian Horner, Eddie Jordan, John Watson and Karun Chandhok in attendance on the night. Celebrity faces were also seen gracing the red carpet outside the iconic Roundhouse and mixing with the motor sport fraternity. James Martin, Chris Rea, Nick Mason and Johnnie Walker joined the exclusive event.Commenting on his accolade at the Roundhouse, Sir Frank Williams said, “Number one I must remind myself not to let my ego get the better of me, because this is an amazing magic. It is an honour, something I will try not to brag about.”In 2010, Mario Andretti, Tony Brooks, Jacky Ickx and Ron Dennis were inducted at the inaugural Hall of Fame event, along with founding members Enzo Ferrari, Tazio Nuvolari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.