ESM enlists David Brabham for 6 Hours of Silverstone
Before the on-track action starts on Friday at the opening round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the 6 Hours of Silverstone, the Tequila Patrón ESM team has implemented its first pit stop and driver change.
David Brabham replaces an injured Johannes van Overbeek in the No. 31 Tequila Patrón ESM Honda Performance Development ARX-03b (HPD) LMP2. Brabham will co-drive with Ed Brown and Jon Fogarty at Silverstone in the first WEC race of 2015. Brabham has one previous start at the 6 Hours of Silverstone; he finished seventh in 2012 in the LMP1 class co-driving a Honda-powered prototype.
“It was quite a surprise to get a call this close to the race,” said Brabham. “Scott explained the situation, and I feel for Johannes after having my own rib injury a couple of months ago racing in Australia. I know how much pain he is in. I’m honored to have been called up to help out Tequila Patrón ESM here at Silverstone, which isn’t that far from where I live. I’ll do the best I can this weekend. I’m back in racing form since my accident and have been training frequently. I’m looking forward to driving with Ed again, and we’ll start the Tequila Patrón ESM WEC season off on the right foot.”
Brabham is a familiar face in the Tequila Patrón ESM garage. In 2014, Brabham co-drove with Scott Sharp and Ryan Dalziel in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and assisted in a runner-up finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Then in November, Brabham teamed with Johannes van Overbeek and Brown, in the No. 31 prototype, to a fourth-place finish at the WEC 6 Hours of Shanghai. In 2013, Brabham co-drove in the then-No. 01 prototype during the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) endurance races at Sebring International Raceway in Florida and Petit Le Mans in Atlanta, where he captured his 14th career ALMS pole position.
“It is very unfortunate that Johannes suffered a rib injury and is unable to compete with Tequila Patrón ESM this weekend at Silverstone, but we expect him back and fully recovered for Spa,” said Tequila Patrón ESM owner/driver Sharp. “Fortunately for Tequila Patrón ESM, David is available, local and Silverstone is his home track. He has joined us at a number of races over the last couple of seasons and has done a stellar job each time. We’re glad to have David back with the team, but we also wish Johannes a speedy recovery.”
Brabham lives in Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK, which is less than 30 minutes from the Silverstone Circuit. Son of triple Formula One World Champion Sir Jack Brabham, David has carried on the Brabham racing legacy. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Brabham has earned numerous championships titles including the Australian Formula 2 Gold Star (1987), British Formula Three Champion (1989), co-champion in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car GT500 (1996) and two-time American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Champion (2009-2010). Brabham co-drove a Tequila Patrón-sponsored LMP car during ALMS championship seasons.
He has also won some of the world’s premier events including Macau Grand Prix (1989), Bathurst 1000 (1997) and three 24 Hours of Le Mans wins.
From team press release
