BREAKING : Martin Brundle Forced to Retire After Six Hours of Spa Comeback Race… Read more
Martin Brundle Forced to Retire After Six Hours of Spa Comeback Race
Former Formula 1 driver and much-loved Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle was forced to retire from competitive action this weekend, after making a nostalgic return to the cockpit at the age of 66.
Brundle, who raced in F1 between 1984 and 1996 and scored nine career podiums, remains one of the most recognisable voices in the sport thanks to his famous pre-race grid walks and commentary. With no Grand Prix taking place this weekend, the veteran broadcaster took the chance to swap the microphone for a steering wheel, competing in the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps historic race in Belgium.
He wasn’t alone in the challenge. Sharing the iconic Ford GT40 with his son Alex Brundle—himself a respected broadcaster and racer—as well as expert historic driver Gary Pearson, the trio entered the classic endurance event with modest ambitions. Their competition even included familiar faces from Brundle’s own racing past, with former F1 rival Christian Danner among the drivers in an Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint.
It was Martin’s first race outing in three years, having last competed at the Goodwood Revival. On Friday, the number 43 Ford qualified only sixth after being hampered by traffic, but optimism remained high for Saturday’s six-hour challenge. Brundle senior took the start and delivered what Alex later described as a “valiant stint,” climbing into the top five overall before handing the car over.
However, the family’s excitement came to a premature end. Late in the race, with just over an hour remaining, Alex announced on social media that the team had been forced to withdraw. Posting on the @brundle_motorsport Instagram story, he explained that fluctuating oil pressure had left them with no choice but to retire the car.
“We have one hour to go in the Spa Six Hours—unfortunately, we don’t,” Alex revealed. “The oil pressure of the car started fluctuating really badly. Obviously, oil lubricates everything, you can’t run the engine without it. I was in the car when it happened, I know the engine and the car really well, and it didn’t sound happy. So I decided to stop. It’s always a tricky decision to make, but we had to retire.”
The announcement was later confirmed on both the team’s and Alex’s social media accounts, bringing a disappointing end to the Brundles’ Spa adventure. Still, Alex noted that despite the setback, the weekend had been enjoyable: “We had good fun.”
For Martin, the outing had never been about results. Speaking before the event, he emphasised that the real motivation was the opportunity to spend a rare weekend with his son, away from the relentless schedule of Formula 1 broadcasting.
“Even on GP weekends we don’t see much of each other,” Brundle explained. “So it’s a rare opportunity for a father-and-son weekend. Me and Al did Le Mans together in 2012 and we’ve raced together in Jaguar E-types, so this is just about having fun.”
Reflecting on his preparation, Brundle added: “I hadn’t raced for three years, but I did a test in the GT40 at Silverstone and really enjoyed it, so we decided to do Spa. I love the circuit and I love the car. I’ve no aspirations other than enjoying it.”
Although mechanical gremlins cut the comeback short, the weekend gave Brundle a chance to reconnect with his racing roots—reminding fans that even decades after leaving Formula 1, his passion for motorsport remains undimmed.
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