Over the years, Tony Brooks has driven for some of the most famous brands in motorsport. He has experience with Aston Martin, Ferrari and history Formula 1 Vanwall team. He racked up six F1 victories in the perilous 1950s and almost missed the world title in 1959. Brooks passed away yesterday at the age of 90.
Brooks entered his first F1 race in 1956 at the Monaco Grand Prix, but was unable to start the event. He finally started a race in British Grand PRix later that year, where he was also crashed by his BRM car and forced to retire.
FIn the 1957 season, Brooks joined the Vanwall team and his luck began to improve. He scored his first goal in Monaco, finished second and won the British Grand Prix later that year. At the end of the season, he finished fifth in the championship behind icons like Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss.
Nicknamed ‘Racing Dentist’ after studying dentistry at the University of Manchester, Brooks scored three more victories in 1958 and finished third in the World Driving Championship.
But it was the 1959 season that proved his highest competitiveness.
British racer signed with Ferrari in 1959 and scored two wins and two podiums, finishing second and third. He finished the year with 27 points, just four points behind championship winner Jack Brabham in the Cooper Climax car.
Brooks raced again for seasons ’60 and ’61, but retired later that year in only 29.
Follow Brooks’ news death, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said in a statement:
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tony Brooks. He is part of an exceptional group of drivers who are pioneers and push boundaries at a time of great risk. He will be missed and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
In addition to winning races in Formula 1, Brooks has also won the RAC Tourist Trophy for 1958 Aston Martin with Stirling Moss.
