Leslie Brooke (racing driver)
| Leslie Brooke | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Born | Henry Leslie Brooke 12 September 1910 Rusholme, UK |
| Died | 9 November 1967 (aged 57) Birmingham, UK |
| World Sportscar Championship | |
| Years active | 1955 |
| Teams | Triumph Motor Company |
| Starts | 1 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Previous series | |
| 1947–1954 | Non-championship Formula One |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Participating years | 1955 |
| Teams | Triumph Motor Company |
| Best finish | 19th (1955) (7th in class) |
| Class wins | 0 |
Henry Leslie Brooke, GM (12 September 1910 – 9 November 1967) was a British racing driver from England. He competed in various classes of racing, including non-championship Formula One, the Le Mans 24-hour race and the Monte Carlo Rally, in the 1930s, '40s and '50s.
Brooke began his career in 1937 with a self-built special based upon a Riley Imp chassis, with an 1,100 cc (67 cu in) MG engine. He entered several events that season but without much success. However, he continued to develop the car over the subsequent two seasons and in 1939, using a Riley 1,750 cc (107 cu in) straight-six engine, achieved three podium finishes at Brooklands, together with a second place at Shelsley Walsh and another second place in the International Trophy at Silverstone.
Brooke's career was then interrupted by World War II. He resumed thereafter, initially with his special, but subsequently purchased an ERA B-type. With this car he won the Grand Prix des Frontières in 1946 and hillclimb events.
In 1947, he finished second in the Swedish Winter Grand Prix in February, but retired from the Vallentuna F1 race held later the same month and from the Jersey F1 race held at Saint Helier. Brooke then purchased an ERA E-type which he used to compete in the Reims Grand Prix retiring after five laps after which he shared Fred Ashmore's ERA B-type which also retired after 33 laps. At the Grand Prix d'Albi, Brooke resumed with his own B-type but having qualified sixth, retired after 18 laps with an engine problem. At the Nice Grand Prix, he finished seventh with the B-type having qualified 20th, and last. He achieved the first-ever race finish (fourth) for the E-type in the 1947 British Empire Trophy at Douglas Circuit and at the 1947 French Grand Prix, qualified in eighth position with the same car but retired after only one lap with an engine problem. He later sold the car back to ERA.
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