Bill Brack

William 'Bill' Brack is a Canadian former racing driver who won the Canadian Formula Atlantic Championship three times in a row from 1973 to 1975. Earlier in a career, he recorded three starts in the Formula One World Championship between 1968 and 1972 but without notable results.

Bill Brack

Starting a career in a Mini Cooper

Born in December 1935 in Toronto, Bill Brack started his racing career in the early 1960s, driving a Morris Mini Cooper.

In the following years, he contested in different sports cars (Austin-Healey Sprite, Honda S600, BMC Mini Cooper S), switching to Lotus 47 in 1967.

Wide schedule of races in 1968

In March 1968, Brack made a debut at Sebring 12 Hours, driving the #66 MG B GT for British Motor Company. Sharing a car with Gary Rodrigues and Richard McDaniel, he finished 18th overall and fifth in GT2.0 class, behind four Porsches.

In 1968, Brack also raced with BMW Mini Cooper S in the Trans-Am Series, recorded few starts in the USAC Stock Car Series and expanded his commitments in open-wheel competitions (Formula 5000, Formula A).

Bill Brack

Formula One debut at 1968 Canadian Grand Prix

In September 1968, Brack made a debut in Formula One World Championship, driving factory-entered #27 Lotus 49B-Cosworth in the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Mont-Tremblant. Starting 20th in the grid, finishing the race after 18 laps with a broken halfshaft.

A year later, in September 1969, Brack returned to Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport, driving the #16 BRM P138. He wasn't classified in the official results after completing 80 laps, ten laps less than race winner Jacky Ickx (Brabham).

Bill Brack in the #16 BRM at 1969 Canadian Grand Prix

Third place in the 1969 Canadian Road Racing Championship

Brack's main racing programme in 1969 was in the Canadian Road Racing Championship but also in the US Formula A/5000 Championship. He scored CRRC two wins and finished third in the championship, behind Eppie Wietzes and Horst Kroll. At 1969 Sebring 12 Hours, Brack raced in an MG C, sharing a car with Craig Hill and finishing 34th overall.

In 1970, Brack continued with a double programme in the Canadian Road Racing Championship and Formula A/5000 Championship, driving Lotus car for his own team. He was a race winner once in the CRRC, finishing fourth in the points.

Last Formula 1 start in the 1972 Canadian Grand Prix

Brack raced in the Formula 5000 Championship in 1971 and 1972, driving a Lotus 70-Chevrolet. He scored no wins or podiums in two seasons.

In September 1972, Brack recorded one more start in the Formula 1 World Championship, participating in the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport. He was driving the #17 Marlboro BRM P180, spinning off after twenty laps.

Bill Brack at 1972 Canadian Grand Prix

Three-time Canadian Formula Atlantic champion

In 1973, Brack spent his first full season in the Canadian Formula Atlantic Championship, driving a Lotus 59-Cosworth for his own team and winning the championship title. He scored no wins, just four podiums in eight races, but that was good enough for the triumph.

The second championship title in the same competition came in 1974 when Brack was a race winner four times in a Lotus 50. In 1975, Brack switched to Chevron B29 and captured one more championship title.

Victory at 1978 Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres

After taking three championship titles in a row, Brack was active in open-wheel racing until 1979, driving different Chevron on March cars in Formula Atlantic.

His greatest success in that period was a victory at non-championship Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres in 1978, at the wheel of a March 79B-Cosworth.

After retirement from racing, Brack opened a Daimler Chrysler dealership in Toronto.

Bill Brack

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