Up close with JRM's David Brabham

JRM’s David Brabham is the most experienced, and arguably the most successful in sportscars, of all the non-factory drivers in the LMP1 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship.  So it’s refreshing to find that there are still new challenges to be faced, such as returning to a track after a gap of 18 years!

“I’ve raced at Interlagos before but it was a very long time ago,” remembers Brabham. “It was back in 1994 and was the first Grand Prix of the year and my first race with the Simtek F1 team, so I’m very much looking forward to going back.

“Pete [Dumbreck] is the only one of us to have recent experience there, having done an FIA GT1 World Championship race in Brazil a couple of years ago.  Karun has got to learn the track as well as me re-familiarising myself with it, but I don’t think we’re going to be on the back foot for long with all of Nigel Stepney’s previous F1 experience to call on.

“I think up until now the team has performed well although there are certainly some areas we need to improve upon and get stronger in.  We know what those areas are, and that’s what we’re working on.  We learnt a heck of a lot after Le Mans, and particularly at Silverstone but JRM is a new team to this type of racing and to the HPD ARX 03a and it takes time to develop.  We’re looking forward to these next races as we feel we’re better prepared and we’re looking for a better result.

“The last time I raced in Brazil was when Senna was there and the atmosphere and the passion amongst the crowd at Interlagos was something I’ll never forget.  The Brazilians love their racing and their drivers, and I’m hoping that some of that passion will be there for when we all arrive as it adds a really nice dimension to the whole event.”

Fiona Miller

PHOTO:  JRM's David Brabham will race the No.22 LMP1 entry with Peter Dumbreck and Karun Chandhok.