Having won two Formula One World Championships, Brabham’s wife encouraged him to retire from racing after the 1965 season.
His team didn’t need him in the cockpit. It wasn’t worth the risk – Formula One was a dangerous sport.
However, the 1966 season would change everything. While other teams were experimenting with newly-permitted 3.0 litre V12s, Brabham played it safe. He knew a V8 engine, made from existing parts, would give his team’s cars less power, but an advantage in terms of reliability. Excited by the prospect of this V8-V12 battle, and struggling to find competitive drivers for his eponymous team, Brabham found himself behind the wheel once again, racing on Goodyear tyres.