Auto Race Car Driver. Born in Dartford, Kent, the son of 500cc F3 racer John Brise, he started racing karts at the age of 8, progressing quickly to become joint British Champion in 1969. He moved into Formula 3 in 1972 with a semi-works Brabham and by the following year gained a works GRD drive. Eventually by 1975 he was chosen to drive for Frank Williams in Formula 1 with his first race at the Spanish Grand Prix at Montjuic Park near Barcelona, Spain. During the race tragedy occurred when driver Rolf Stommelen's Embassy Hill vehicle vaulted a weak barrier, killing three race officials and a photographer, and seriously injuring his legs. Champion racer Graham Hill failed to qualify his own car at Monaco and then and there decided to retire and gave Tony Brise the seat. His races for the remainder of the year, when he wasn't replaced by other drivers, was promising. In November 1975 the team went to the Paul Ricard Circuit in France to test the new Embassy Hill GH2, and flew home afterwards. Graham Hill was the pilot and also on board was Tony Brise, the car's designer Andy Smallman and three mechanics. Coming in to land at Elstree airfield in very foggy conditions, the Piper light aircraft clipped trees on the edge of Arkley Golf Course near Barnet and crashed killing all of the occupants. Tony Brise was 23 years old when he died. Great Britain lost three exceptional F1 drivers in a short space of time - Roger Williamson, Tom Pryce and Tony Brise.
Auto Race Car Driver. Born in Dartford, Kent, the son of 500cc F3 racer John Brise, he started racing karts at the age of 8, progressing quickly to become joint British Champion in 1969. He moved into Formula 3 in 1972 with a semi-works Brabham and by the following year gained a works GRD drive. Eventually by 1975 he was chosen to drive for Frank Williams in Formula 1 with his first race at the Spanish Grand Prix at Montjuic Park near Barcelona, Spain. During the race tragedy occurred when driver Rolf Stommelen's Embassy Hill vehicle vaulted a weak barrier, killing three race officials and a photographer, and seriously injuring his legs. Champion racer Graham Hill failed to qualify his own car at Monaco and then and there decided to retire and gave Tony Brise the seat. His races for the remainder of the year, when he wasn't replaced by other drivers, was promising. In November 1975 the team went to the Paul Ricard Circuit in France to test the new Embassy Hill GH2, and flew home afterwards. Graham Hill was the pilot and also on board was Tony Brise, the car's designer Andy Smallman and three mechanics. Coming in to land at Elstree airfield in very foggy conditions, the Piper light aircraft clipped trees on the edge of Arkley Golf Course near Barnet and crashed killing all of the occupants. Tony Brise was 23 years old when he died. Great Britain lost three exceptional F1 drivers in a short space of time - Roger Williamson, Tom Pryce and Tony Brise.
Bio by: Paul Narramore
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