Media Release: Brabham Shares Le Mans & Sir Jack’s 50th Celebrations At Goodwood
Tuesday 7 July, 2009; Le Mans 24 Hours winner David Brabham was reunited with his race-winning Team Peugeot Total car to the crowd’s delight at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held 3-5 July. The sportscar ace drove the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP on the famous 1.6 mile Goodwood hillclimb and was joined by team mates Alex Wurz and Marc Gene during the three day event.
As well as celebrating his Le Mans victory secured three weeks ago, Brabham attended the Festival to honour his father’s phenomenal racing career and the 50th anniversary of Sir Jack’s first Formula One World Championship title by driving a Cooper T51 of the type Jack drove to his 1959 crown. The event also marked the launch of the first ever merchandise range to be endorsed by the Brabham family for the golden anniversary, with a host of motor racing stars joining David for the occasion, from the heroes of racing days gone past to Australia’s top current Formula One driver. American racing legend Dan Gurney, the first driver to take a championship race victory for Sir Jack’s Brabham Racing Organisation in 1964, made a special visit to the Sir Jack Brabham stand presented by www.f1tools.com. Interviewed by David to the delight of the gathered crowd, Nick Goozée, Managing Director of Penske UK in its time, who started his apprenticeship with the team from 1963, also joined Dan in reminiscing on working with the triple Formula One World Champion. Red Bull Racing Formula One star Mark Webber, who finished second at the British Grand Prix just two weeks earlier, also took time out of his hectic Goodwood schedule to hail Sir Jack’s contribution to worldwide motorsport spanning half a century and conduct a signing session from the stand. “I was absolutely delighted to be invited to be part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and to have the chance to drive a 1959 Cooper T51, by kind permission of Roger Wills, in relation to the 50th anniversary of my Dad’s first Formula One World Championship,” said Brabham. “It was wonderful to be back driving the Le Mans winning Peugeot for the huge crowds, many of whom would have travelled to watch the race last month. The car and the drivers received such a great reception from the fans, it was really touching. It’s been an honour to be a part of this spectacular event, amongst some of the greatest cars and drivers the world has ever seen. “I’d like to sincerely thank Dan Gurney and Mark Webber for coming to the Sir Jack Brabham stand. I am also very grateful to Nick Goozée for bringing with him two wonderful timeless pieces of motorsport history – Dan’s 1964 race winning steering wheel and my father’s 1959 championship winning helmet. It’s been fantastic to recognise my Dad’s remarkable racing achievements in such a special way.” The unveiled Sir Jack Brabham 50th anniversary merchandise collection included a stunning limited edition toolbox stack and toolset, exquisite signed limited edition canvas prints and a cuff links set with just 50 units produced, plus clothing apparel in a befitting retro style. The full range is available online at www.f1tools.com Among David’s other duties at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as an ambassador of the initiative, he visited the MSA’s Go Motorsport stand to help encourage people to get involved in motorsport whether as a competitor, spectator or volunteer. Brawn GP ace and current leader of the FIA Formula One World Championship Jenson Button joined Brabham in urging children to get started in karting at their local kart circuit. For further information visit www.gomotorsport.net Photography – please click on the thumbnail links to download the images at the bottom of this media release. -Ends- For further information on David Brabham, including his career history and biography, visit www.davidbrabham.com For further information on Sir Jack Brabham and the celebrations surrounding the 50th anniversary of his first Formula One World Championship, visit the new website www.jackbrabham.co.uk. For the full Sir Jack Brabham merchandise collection visit www.f1tools.com Media Contact: Emma Spearing, Hazel PR Tel: 01202 862411 Fax: 01202 862301 Mobile: 07736 341828
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