Brabham BT19 inducted into Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame

Motorsport Australia has announced this year’s list of inductees into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame. In a ceremony held at the 2026 Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix, individuals from the worlds of drag racing, motorcycling, supercars and motorsport administration were joined by the 1966 Repco-Brabham BT19 F1 car - the first time a car has been admitted to the Hall of Fame.

Raced by Sir Jack Brabham to the 1966 Formula 1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships – the only time a driver has won the F1 title in a car of their own make – the BT19 becomes the 100th member of the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame, which coincides with the centenary of Jack Brabham’s birth this year. Brabham, along with Ron Tauranac (the ‘T’ in ‘BT’) and Repco engine designer Phil Irving are already Hall of Fame inductees.

“The Repco-Brabham BT19 F1 car joins an exclusive gathering of the most successful and impactful figures in the sport,” said John Smailes, Chair of the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame. “It is the most important race car ever produced, the product of a rare combination of Australian genius.”

Powered by a 3.0-litre V8 that was designed, engineered and built in Melbourne, the BT19 won four races in the 1966 Formula One season, plus several non-championship events with Brabham at the wheel.

“Inducting the Repco-Brabham BT19 into 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,” said Wayne Bryant, Chief Merchandise and Growth Officer, Repco Australia.

“The fact that Repco created the BT19’s V8 Formula 1 engine remains a source of inspiration for all our team members.”

The other Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 were seven-time Supercars Champion Jamie Whincup, motorsport official, entrepreneur and a key member in the creation of Rally Australia Garry Connelly, Top Fuel drag racing team owner Santo Rapisarda, World Enduro Champion Shane Watts and the late Kenny Blake, who won multiple Australian motorcycle road racing championships.