Australia honours Ron Tauranac

Ron Tauranac was honoured in the recent Australia Day Honours by being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. The award is amongst the highest accolades outside military service.

The designer of the Brabhams that took Sir Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme to world championship titles in 1966 and ’67 respectively, Tauranac was actually born in Kent before spending much of his life in Australia.

Having been Brabharn’s business partner until 1971, then selling the company to Bernie Ecclestone in ’72, Tauranac went on to produce Formula Two and F3 championship-winning Ralt single-seaters. He was also instrumental in persuading Honda to enter motor racing.

Now 76 and living in Surrey, Ron remains a consultant to Honda.