Media Release: Braham Ready For Spa 1000 Kilometres with Peugeot Sport

Friday 8 May, 2009; Double Le Mans 24 Hours GT1 class winner David Brabham is set to contest his first race with Peugeot Sport, the 1000 kilometres at Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, this weekend, 8-10 May.

Brabham will chariot the new-liveried 908 HDi FAP for the first time with co-drivers Alexander Wurz and Marc Gene ahead of Peugeot’s assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours and Brabham’s bid to take his third consecutive Le Mans win next month.

The Australian sportscar legend and former Formula One Star, who lives in Henley-on-Thames, has not contested the prestigious Spa endurance event for over a decade. But the 43 year-old still rates the challenging Belgium circuit as one of the best.

“I’m really looking forward to racing at Spa as it’s one of the greatest race tracks in the world. This will obviously be my first race with Peugeot so it’s going to be a fantastic experience. The car’s in good shape and I am looking forward to working with a great team and sharing the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP with my co-drivers Alexander and Marc.

“The race will be good preparation for Le Mans, which is really what we are focussing on. Of course we want to win at Spa, but all of the information we gain will be working towards Le Mans, so we will be doing things to the car and trying out strategies to learn as much as possible.”

A seasoned Le Mans veteran dating back to 1992, Brabham already boasts back-to-back GT1 class victories (in 2007 and 2008) with Aston Martin Racing. This year with Peugeot will mark Brabham’s return to the Le Mans LMP1 category for the first time since 2003 when he teamed with Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell in the Bentley EXP Speed 8 and finished second.

Brabham has already enjoyed LMP1 success in the Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a this season, taking the first American Le Mans Series class victory for the marque and the team in only the second round of the season at St Petersburg in April. The charismatic Aussie takes the Peugeot drive this year with the full blessing of Patrón Highcroft Racing and Acura.

Brabs continues: “It’s been a good few years since I last raced the 1000 kilometres at Spa but I’m feeling well prepared for my first race in the Peugeot. We completed a 30 hour simulation test at Paul Ricard between the St Petersburg and Long Beach ALMS rounds, which went really well. So I’m ready and up for this. When I feel properly prepared, I feel like I have a better chance of winning.”

Qualifying for the Spa 1000 kilometres will take place at 13:55 on Saturday and the race is scheduled to begin at 12:50pm CEST on Sunday. For further information visit www.lemans-series.com

For photography please click on the thumbnails to download images below.

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For further information on David Brabham, including his career history and biography, visit www.davidbrabham.com

For further information on David’s father, Sir Jack Brabham, and the celebrations surrounding the 50th anniversary of his first Formula One World Championship title, visit the new website www.jackbrabham.co.uk

Media Contact (including hi-res images):
Emma Spearing, Hazel PR:
Tel: +44 (0)1202 862410 Mobile: +44 (0)7736 341828 E-mail: emma.spearing@hazelpr.com

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