Brabham honoured at Sydney Motorsport Park

The Australian Racing Drivers' Club (ARDC), which manages the Eastern Creek complex, used the Legends Dinner at the annual Australian Muscle Car Masters event last weekend to announce that the recently completed 4.5km extended circuit at Sydney Motorsport Park will henceforth be known as the 'Brabham Circuit', in honour of the three-time World Driver's Champion. In addition, the circuit's main straight has been christened the 'Brabham Straight'.

At the dinner, Sir Jack Brabham, who is ARDC member number four and a life member of the club, thanked the ARDC for his honours, and also led the Australian Muscle Car Masters parade lap around the newly named extended circuit.

"Thank you very much for the suggestions of Brabham Straight and Brabham Circuit. I am honoured, especially as I had quite a lot to do with the building of the circuit in the early days," he said.

ARDC president Andrew Leithhead also announced that turn five at the Park has been christened 'Brock's 05' in honour of Australian Touring Car and Bathurst legend, the late Peter Brock, and his famous '05' racing number. Peter Brock's son Robert attended the dinner to accept the honour on behalf of the Brock family.

The announcements are the beginning of the ARDC's circuit-naming initiative, in which the club is inviting the public to name sections of the Sydney Motorsport Park circuit to honour the people, memories and moments of the history of the venue and the sport.

Mr Leithhead said that this circuit-naming initiative is the next stage of the improvements at Sydney Motorsport Park, making the place more than just a race track.

"What the ARDC is doing at Sydney Motorsport Park is creating a venue that is about experiences beyond what you see on the circuit.

"We want the public to think about all of their best memories of Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek, and let us know what they think should be remembered - and honoured - as a part of this process."

The ARDC is accepting submissions from the public via the Sydney Motorsport Park Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/SydneyMotorsportPark.