Going into the family business can often be a stressful and relationship-fracturing decision, but for some it’s the most natural thing in the world to follow in the footsteps of a parent or a sibling.
This is as true in motorsport as anywhere else, and over the decades there are numerous cases of close relations hitting the circuits and the stages. However, some families take it more seriously than others, with generations of racers more or less being born with a steering wheel in their hands. Some have been more successful than others, with family trophy cabinets groaning under the weight of silverware, while others have struggled to make a mark, this time under the weight of expectation.
So which are the greatest dynasties? Well, we’ve concentrated on four-wheeled motorsport for this list (apologies to the Dunlop and Marquez fans out there), so here are our top ten picks.
Andretti
If the USA were to ditch its republic and start a monarchy, then it’s quite likely the Andrettis would be its royal family. Mario and son Michael would arguably be its King and Prince Regent, having amassed five Indycar titles, and a Formula One world championship between them from the late Sixties through to 2007. They even clocked up a Le Mans podium when sharing a Porsche 962 in 1983, then finished the same race sixth in 1988, this time with the addition of Michael’s brother, and fellow Indycar driver Jeff on co-driving duties.
In the early days of Mario’s career he also raced against twin brother Aldo, whose sons Adam and John also went into the family business, with the latter taking wins in NASCAR, Indycar and sportscars. Now there’s a third generation of Andrettis, with Michael’s son Marco having already racked up two wins and twenty podiums in Indycar since making his debut in 2006, while John’s son Jarett is plying his trade in the IMSA sportscar series.
Brabham
When Jack Brabham made the move from Australia to the UK in 1955 he kick-started a motor racing dynasty that continues to this day. Jack’s achievements are well documented, but it’s always worth restating that not only did he win the F1 world title three times, his last championship was secured driving a car made by his team and bearing his own name - the first, and currently only, time this has been achieved.
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Come you are Autocar, not Google.
Not good enough.
My I also offer the Roberts dynasty from the world of motorcycle racing? Kenny Roberts was USA Grand National Champion before coming to Europe and winning the 500cc Grand Prix world championship three times in 1978/79/80 (the first Americal to win it). His eldest son, Kenny Jr, went on to win the same world championship in 2000 (just before the new four-stroke MotoGP era began). His youngest son, Kurtis, was a successful road racer in the USA, winning the 600 Supersport Champoinship in 2000 and he also raced in the various world championship classes.
Kenny Roberts also ran his own world championship team with Yamaha in the late '80s nd early '90s, eventually gaining Marlboro sponsorship and winning multiple world championships as team manager with riders Wayne Rainey (250 & 500cc), Eddie Lawson (500cc) and John Kocinski (250cc). He even built his own bike and engine but with limited success.
The Fittipaldis?