Warwick Brown

Warwick Brown is a former racing driver from Australia who was active mostly during the 1970s. He collected three championship titles in regional open-wheel competitions, winning the 1975 Tasman Series and Rothmans International Series two times (1977 and 1978).

He was also a vice-champion in the 1978 Can-Am Series. In the Formula One World Championship, Brown recorded just one start, driving for Wolf-Williams at the 1976 US Grand Prix.

Warwick Brown

Australian Formula 1 debut in 1971

Born in December 1949 in Sydney, Warwick Brown recorded his first participation in the Australian Drivers' Championship in 1971. The competition was also called the Australian Formula 1 as it was opened for F1 cars.

Brown was driving a McLaren M4A-Cosworth for Pat Burke Racing, scoring two podiums to finish seventh in the championship. In November 1971, he made a debut in the Australian Grand Prix which took place at Warwick Farm Raceway. He finished in the seventh place.

In 1972, Brown competed both in the Australian Formula 1 Championship and Australian rounds of the Tasman Series. His race car was a McLaren M10B-Chevrolet. Scoring two podiums, he was sharing the fourth place in the Australian Championship.

Warwick Brown in 1974

Switching to Lola cars in 1973, traveling to the USA in 1974

For the 1973 season, Brown switched to Lola T300-Chevrolet F5000 car, driving for Team Target in four New Zealand's rounds of the Tasman Series. He finished seventh in the points. Next year, driving a Lola T332-Chevrolet for Pat Burke Racing, Brown expanded his racing activities to North America.

He participated in the SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship, scoring one podium and finishing in the seventh place. He also continued to race in Australia and New Zealand, scoring his maiden win in the season's finale of Tasman Series at Adelaide International Raceway. He ended a season sixth in the points.

Brown's championship-winning Lola T332 in the 1975 Tasman Series

Tasman Series champion in 1975

In 1975, Brown improved his results and scored two wins in the Tasman Series, capturing the championship title. He won the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe Park Raceway and the race at Oran Park. His race car was the Lola T332-Chevrolet.

In 1975, he also repeated a participation in the SCCA/USAC F5000 Championship, driving a Talon MR1A-Chevrolet. In eight races, he was on a podium once, finishing seventh in the points.

Warwick Brown's #21 Wolf-Williams FW05 at 1976 US Grand Prix

Formula 1 World Championship debut in 1976

In 1976, Brown's only competition was the North American Formula 5000 Championship. He finished seventh in the points again, using two cars during a season, Lola T332 and newer Lola T430.

While in America, Brown made a debut in the Formula 1 World Championship. In October, he was hired to drive for Walter Wolf-sponsored Frank Williams' team in the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Driving the #21 Wolf-Williams FW05, he finished in 14th place, the last of classified drivers, ten laps behind race winner James Hunt.

Brown's Lola T430-Chevrolet in 1977

Rothmans International Series champion in 1977 and 1978

In 1977, Brown returned to Australia to compete in the Rothmans International Series which was formed after the Tasman Series split into two competitions a year earlier. Driving the Lola T430-Chevrolet for the Racing Team VDS, Brown was a race winner two times to take the championship title ahead of Peter Gethin and Alan Jones.

In 1978, Brown dominated the Rothmans International Series in a Lola T332, winning all four races and taking his third championship title in a career. In the same year, he was successful in the Can-Am Challenge Series, finishing as a vice-champion behind Alan Jones.

Ending a career at Bathurst 1000 race

Brown spent one more season with Racing Team VDS in the Rothmans International Series, driving a Lola T333CS-Chevrolet. He won a race at Oran Park, finishing third in the points behind Larry Perkins and Alfredo Costanzo.

Brown closed his racing career in 1980 with several participations in touring car races, including the Hang Ten 400 (today Sandown 500) and the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama Circuit. He was sharing the #11 Holden VB Commodore with Gary Cooke, retiring from races after 155 laps, just fifteen minutes before the end the race. At Sandown, he and Cooke finished fifth.

Photos: asag.sk,