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GT1: Brabham Gears Up For New Challenge
Veteran endurance racing ace to make his FIA GT1 World Championship debut this weekend in Abu Dhabi...
John Dagys  |  Posted March 23, 2011   Chicago, IL
Fresh off a runner-up finish in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, David Brabham embarks on the FIA GT1 World Championship, beginning with this weekend's races in Abu Dhabi. (Photo: Rick Dole/Highcroft)
This weekend’s FIA GT1 World Championship season-opener in Abu Dhabi marks a new chapter in the already expansive career of David Brabham. The two-time and defending American Le Mans Series champion, and 2009 winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, steps up to a full season of competition in the second-year championship.

Brabham, who will join Jamie Campbell-Walter at the wheel of one two Nissan GT-Rs fielded by Sumo Power GT, said the deal simply came about after him reading the team’s press release last month of a planned driver shootout to finalize the the team's lineup.

While the shootout, scheduled to be held in Qatar, was later canceled due to the civil unrest in the Middle East, Brabham had already been in negotiations with the James Rumsey-led squad. In the matter of days, the deal was done.
Brabham returns to the wheel of a Nissan for the first time since his Spa 24 Hours victory in a Nissan Skyline GTR in 1991. His brother, Geoff, is also a three-time IMSA GTP Champion with the Japanese marque. (Photo: DPPI/FIA GT)

For Brabham, the opportunity to compete in the GT1 World Championship came in the right place at the right time. After following the series last year, impressed by the level of competition and hard-fought racing, the veteran Australian had kept an eye on possible opportunities, especially with the allure of its World Championship status. Uncertainty with Highcroft Racing being able to put together a full-season program was also taken into account.

“I was at the FIA awards in Monaco and saw the World Championship trophies being given to the GT guys,” Brabham explained. “I was thinking at the time that it would be cool to win the World Championship. All of a sudden, I’m competing in the championship now.”

Brabham and the rest of the four-car Nissan squad participated in a one-day test at Zolder earlier this month, prior to the cars being shipped to Abu Dhabi. While the shakedown served primarily as a familiarization of the car, Brabham was pleased with his first impression of the GT1 contender.

“I have to admit that after the first lap, I had a big grin on my face,” Brabham said. “I was thinking, ‘Actually, this feels pretty good.’ We weren’t pushing 100 percent but enough to get somewhat of a feel for it, of how it stops, etc. It was good to feel it and get to know the team and my other teammates.”

Despite his deep roots in endurance racing, the GT1 World Championship’s sprint race format of two 60-minute races each race weekend is nothing entirely new for Brabham, having competed in the British Touring Car Championship in 1995.

But the biggest difference, he feels, in comparison to ALMS or Le Mans competition, will be the length of time behind the wheel, which will range between 25-35 minutes each race, depending on the team’s strategy.

“I’m sure it will be slightly different,” he said. “For example, I can be in the car for [only] 25 minutes. And then I’m out. So for that 25 minutes, you’ll have to push like hell. We do that [in endurance racing] but there’s always thoughts of the big picture because you know you have a long race ahead. Where [in GT1], it will be full-on."

With Brabham contesting the entire ten-round schedule, it means he'll be unable to mount an attack on the ALMS LMP1 championship, should Highcroft Racing confirm a full-season campaign. While he'll certainly contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans again for the Duncan Dayton-led squad, Brabham said he's looking forward to the new challenge ahead in GT1.

“I enjoy that type of racing and I know I’m going to slot into really well," he said. "I’ve never been to Abu Dhabi before so I’ll have to learn the circuit. There will be lots of things from me to learn. It’s a big challenge, but it’s something I’m really looking forward to.”

John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at

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