Bev Brock: Longtime partner of motorsport champion Peter Brock dies after battle with cancer

The longtime partner of Peter Brock has died after a battle with cancer.

Bev Brock died at the age of 77 at her Melbourne home on Sunday, two years after she was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Despite never marrying, Bev took Peter's surname through deed poll and spent just under three decades together before splitting in 2005. 

The pair had two children together, daughter Alexandra and son Robert.

Bev also had son James, with her first husband James McIntosh.

'Bev was a dedicated parent, always making time to make a costume for plays or help out on a school camp,' her son, James Brock, wrote on Facebook.

'She dedicated her life to helping Peter's racing career taking on multiple roles, all met with skill, smarts and purpose.'

Bev was well known as a supportive figure for Peter throughout his illustrious racing career.

She was often seen in the pits throughout his career while helping him navigate his fame as his career started to flourish.

After their split, Bev would turn to charity work and becoming an author, penning two books about Peter and an autobiography about the pair's private life.

Her dedication to charity work was recognised in 2016 when she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal.

US based racer, Kenny Habul, remembered his longtime friend as 'an incredible person who led an amazing and full life'.   

'She battled tenaciously the last few years, but was always positive and presented herself with dignity, enthusiasm and displayed such strength. It was inspirational to be around her,' he said.

'She had a real passion and interest in motorsport, well after Peter passed and was genuinely proud when we won the Bathurst 12 Hour.

'Bev really was one of the matriarchs of Australian motorsport and will be sadly missed.'

Mr Habul reminisced on Peter once telling him that Bev is 'one in a million', adding 'that she was'.

Peter would go on to tragically die during a car crash in the Targa West Rally a year after their split.

He was given a state funeral in Victoria in honour of his nine victories at Bathurst, earning him the moniker 'king of the mountain'.

Bev said Peter did everything 'in the public eye and... with a flourish and a bang' and endorsed the funeral as it was how 'he would want to be remembered'.

Peter's death would however spark a fierce legal battle over his estate as he had left behind three wills, the last of which was written in 2006 and was left unsigned.   

The will named Brock’s children as the beneficiaries to his superannuation and shares, while his then fiance, Julie Bamford, was given the rest of the estate.

Bev contested the will and became embroiled in a three-year battle for her share of the estate.

Despite this, she would refuse to speak poorly about her former partner and would fondly remember him in the almost two decades after he passed. 

Bev is survived by three children and seven grandchildren.