in 1986, his father got a team together under the banner of jack brabham racing. gary raced in 9 of the 18 rounds of the british formula 3 championship in a ralt-volkswagen rt30, managing some decent results such as second at silverstone. this was enough to take him to fifth in the championship. for 1987, the team had secured panasonic backing for 15 of the 19 f3 races, in a ralt-volkswagen rt31. brabham won two races at silverstone and donington park, coming i sixth in the championship. he was threatening johnny herbert for the title until his budget tragically ran out.