RIP Russell Brookes

[turves]

Just heard that Russell Brookes has passed away.

A stalwart of British Rallying, his partnership with Andrews Heat For Hire was one of the longest sponsorship deals in motorsport history. His battles with Jimmy McRae in the Manta were legendary, and he would always mix it with Jimmy, Pentti, Ari, Hannu etc. Competed in many cars during his career - Sunbeam, Chevette, Escort, Manta, Sierra Cosworth amongst others.

Rally in Peace, Russell.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Such sad news. Russell was one of my early rally heroes along with Jimmy McRae.

They made the Manta 400 my favourite rally car and those batttle's led me to buying my own Manta B coupe.

Watched him many times on the RAC Rally, still fighting against the odds with the 4WD Group B monsters.

A great driver and a top bloke. RIP Russell.

https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/resources/images/4239192.jpg?display=1&htype=0&type=responsive-gallery

[AndyRAC]

Sad news. An icon of British rallying in the 70's/80's - particularly with his partnership with Andrews Heat for Hire.

Another of the British drivers who was treated poorly by the world teams, who were infatuated with Scandiwegians & Finns.

Go and see his interview during the 1986 RAC Rally on YouTube; he was incensed at the way the event had gone 'soft'.....

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Hopefully he has a bit of immortality in the rally game world...

https://www.mobygames.com/images/promo/original/558555966ac445ed9a65f876d5deb84f.jpg

https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/551576-dirt-rally-2-0-opel-manta-400-playstation-4-front-cover.jpg

[Fast Eddie WRC]

2019 BBC SPOTY... no mention of rallying, no WRC Winner, no Ingram winning the ERC, no BRC in its own country... and even RB missed off the tribute list. Sad.

[AndyRAC]

No offence, but anybody expecting rallying (or any non F1 discipline) to get a mention is naive; to the general public and Sports Editors, the only motorsport that counts is F1. Though multiple times WSBK champion Johnny Rea did get a mention.

[the sniper]

Though multiple times WSBK champion Johnny Rea did get a mention.

Though likely only because of his near victory of SPOTY a few years ago, which undoubtedly took the BBC completely by surprise. I thought Russell Brooks might get mentioned in the tributes list, but I'm not surprised by his omission. I didn't expect any further mention of rallying. Frankly the BRC doesn't deserve mentioning in it's current format.

[AndyRAC]

Ah yes, the near 'outsider' who very nearly caught the Beeb out; and since then, they've changed the voting - he's never been on the shortlist despite winning the WSBK title.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Nice to see the Irish remembering the late great RB...

The Russell Brooks Memorial run Kilmackillogue 29thDec 2019.
https://twitter.com/KeithCDrivefor5/status/1209094518454280192