Brisbane, Australia: Three-time Formula One champion Jack Brabham died early Monday at his home on the Gold Coast, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation said. He was 88.
The Australian driver -- known as Sir Jack in racing paddocks around the world after he was knighted in 1979 -- won world titles in 1959 and 1960 and became the only F1 driver to win a world championship in a car of his own construction -- the rear-engined BT19 -- which he drove to the title in 1966.
The following year the Brabham team won its second successive world championship when New Zealander Denny Hulme drove the BT20 to victory. Brabham won his final Grand Prix race in South Africa in 1970 before retiring from F1 at the age of 44.
He had 14 Grand Prix wins and took pole position 13 times. He also placed second 10 times and had seven third-place finishes, giving him 31 podium finishes in his career.
Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker said Brabham did a lot to develop Formula One racing, "was a great Australian ... and I am sad to learn of his passing."
Brabham is survived by his second wife, Margaret, and his three sons Geoff, Gary, and David,
