Ron Tauranac

Born Jan 13, 1925 · Gillingham, Kent, England, UK

Ron Tauranac (January 13, 1925 – July 17, 2020) was a British-Australian engineer and racing car designer, renowned for his significant contributions to motorsport. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England, he emigrated to Australia during his youth. In the 1950s, Tauranac and his brother Austin built hillclimb cars named 'Ralt,' an acronym derived from their initials. Tauranac's collaboration with fellow Australian Jack Brabham led to the formation of Motor Racing Developments in the early 1960s, producing cars under the Brabham name. His engineering expertise was pivotal in Brabham's back-to-back Formula 1 World Championships in 1966 and 1967. After Brabham's retirement in 1970, Tauranac took full control of the team before selling it to Bernie Ecclestone in 1972. In 1974, Tauranac revived the 'Ralt' marque, designing successful cars for Formula 2, Formula 3, and other categories, which became dominant in the 1970s and 1980s. His designs were known for their simplicity, reliability, and competitiveness, earning him a lasting legacy in motorsport engineering.