One of the most successful British rally drivers of the 1970s and 80s, Russell Brookes, has died at the age of 74.
A double British Champion, Brookes was most famous for driving Escorts and Opels painted in the colours of his famous sponsors, 'Andrews Heat For Hire'.
Born on August 16, 1945, Brookes began competing in the early 1960s, but it was 1974 when he signed the pioneering deal with heating/cooling hire company Andrews-Sykes when his profile skyrocketed.
"The Worcestershire-born driver got a big break in 1976 when he received a works Ford Escort for the British Rally Championship – which he lost to Ari Vatanen – but in the firm’s RS1800 he took his first British title one year later against stiff competition," an obituary on www.motorsport.com reported.
Russell Brookes (left) has died at the age of 74 in the UK.
"He had to wait until 1985 for his second British title, coming at the end of a fierce two-year battle with Opel Manta 400 works' teammate Jimmy McRae.
"Despite that almost eight-year wait for a title, Brookes took wins – in most cases multiple victories – on most of the major prestigious events of the period, including the Circuit of Ireland, Manx, Ulster, Welsh and Scottish rallies, all at a time when the majority of the drivers in the World Rally Championship would come to the UK to compete in parallel programmes, raising competition.
"Brookes rarely ventured into the WRC, but scored three podiums on his home event, the RAC Rally (now Wales Rally GB), plus a sixth place on Rally Finland in a Vauxhall Chevette in 1982 and retired from the Tour of Corsica in 1977 while driving for Ford.
"In his career Brookes drove everything from Minis, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, Lancia Delta Integrales, Porsche 911s and Opel Kadetts – as well as his trusty Escorts and Mantas – in a career which spanned three decades as he retired from regular competition at the end of 1991.
Russell Brookes doing what he did best in the Tour of Britain in 1974. Photo: Martin Holmes
"He still competed in sporadic events and even won the historic-based RAC Rally in 1997, and was still giving demos in his eclectic cars last year, a regular at events like Rallyday and Race Retro."
Brookes was the first international star to contest New Zealand's Otago Rally in the early 2000s, driving a Ford Escort RS1800, and making an immediate impact down under.
His likeable nature will be missed by his thousands of fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrmrxCTjwM4
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