Eric Brandon

{{short description|British racing driver (1920–1982)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}

{{Infobox F1 driver

| name = Eric Brandon

| nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British

| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|7|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = East Ham, Essex, England, UK

| death_date = {{death date and age|1982|8|8|1920|7|18|df=y}}

| death_place = Gosport, Hampshire, England, UK

| Years = {{F1|1952}}, {{F1|1954}}

| Team(s) = non-works Cooper

| Races = 5

| Championships = 0

| Wins = 0

| Podiums = 0

| Points = 0

| Poles = 0

| Fastest laps = 0

| First race = 1952 Swiss Grand Prix

| First win =

| Last win =

| Last race = 1954 British Grand Prix

}}

Eric Brandon (18 July 1920 in East Ham, Essex – 8 August 1982 in Gosport, Hampshire) was a motor racing driver and businessman. He was closely associated with the Cooper Car Company, and was instrumental in the early development of the company.

When he and his boyhood friend John Cooper were released from military service after World War II they built two cars to the new National {{convert|500|cc|cuin|1|abbr=on}} regulations. Brandon, whose family business was electrical goods, had access to BTH magnetos for the JAP engines, which Cooper's father Charlie then acquired. Brandon entered his Cooper in numerous hillclimbs and sprints and in 1947, at Gransden Lodge airfield, he won Britain's first-ever 500 cc circuit race.[http://www.500race.org/Men/Brandon.htm Eric Brandon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222153512/http://www.500race.org/Men/Brandon.htm |date=22 February 2007 }} 500race.org Retrieved on 8 April 2008 He also won the first Formula Three title, in 1951.[http://www.motorsportsetc.com/champs/gbr_f3.htm British F3 Champions] motorsportsetc.com Retrieved on 4 September 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817211819/http://www.motorsportsetc.com/champs/gbr_f3.htm |date=17 August 2007 }}

Later in the 1950s Brandon entered five World Championship Grands Prix in larger, Formula Two Cooper-Bristols, but failed to score any Championship points. For much of his career Brandon raced for the Ecurie Richmond team, which he formed with Alan Brown. In 1955 he funded the construction of his own Halseylec sports car, named after his electrical supplies company. He continued to compete in cars until 1956, but had become increasingly involved in hydroplane racing and by 1957 had devoted himself entirely to this outlet for his competitive spirit.

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