IRWIN Racing signs David Brabham as extra driver

IRWIN RACING SIGNS LEMANS 24-HOUR CHAMPION FOR ENDUROS AND THE GOLD COAST 600

Reigning LeMans 24-hour champion David Brabham will drive for IRWIN Racing at the two V8 Supercar endurance events and at the Armor All Gold Coast 600.

Brabham will team up in the IRWIN Ford Falcon with Alex Davison at the L&H 500 at Phillip Island, followed by the Supercheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst and then be IRWIN Racing's compulsory international driver at the revamped Armor All Gold Coast 600.

Brabham, son of three-time Formula One world champion Jack Brabham, won the famous LeMans 24-hour race and the American LeMans series in 2009. He has a strong Bathurst pedigree having raced at Mt Panorama on multiple occasions, winning the 2-litre Bathurst event in 1997 partnered with his brother Geoff.

Brabham is making his debut with Stone Brothers Racing having last raced at Bathurst in 2006.

David Brabham Quotes

On joining IRWIN Racing:

"I've been away from V8 racing for too long. It's fantastic to be driving at IRWIN Racing. I've been to Bathurst many times; I've won there in a two-litre and I want to win it in a V8. To be able to do this with someone like Stone Brothers is pretty cool, they set the benchmark very early on in terms of running the cars competitively. The Stone Brothers are Australian motor sport; to go there and drive for those guys is a great honour."

On the Gold Coast 600:

"I'm really looking forward to the Gold Coast SuperCarnivale. Obviously it's going to be full on with all the internationals (drivers). Fortunately I'll get some practice before hand at Phillip Island and Bathurst, which will make driving on the Gold Coast easier - in terms of understanding the IRWIN Ford. Australians really do know how to put on an event and when it comes to motor racing the Gold Coast event is fantastic, it really is, it really sets the benchmark for a lot of other people around the world. It's certainly an interesting concept. I'm really looking forward to going down there."

On racing at the Gold Coast:

"The Gold Coast is my second home. I'll have plenty of support at the Gold Coast SuperCarnivale for sure. I love Queensland. I love the Gold Coast. To go down there and race for IRWIN and to race at the Gold Coast will be phenomenal."

On Bathurst:

"Bathurst is unique, it's so difficult to describe. It's got fantastic history and heritage, some fantastic drivers have been there and we've seen some great races. For any Australian growing up, that was the big race every October. The whole country stops just to watch it. To be able to just compete there is great; to go there and win would be very special."

On winning at Bathurst in a V8:

"To go to Bathurst and win in a V8 would be the ultimate really. I've done a lot of things in my career, winning Le Mans last year was a very special moment, equal to that would be to go back there and win in a V8 at Bathurst."

On teaming with Alex Davison:

"Alex has had a lot of experience in Europe and now the V8s, he's going to be a fantastic team mate, I'm sure. I'm looking forward to developing the relationship and driving with him."

On Sir Jack Brabham attending the Armor All Gold Coast 600:

"Hopefully dad will be OK, his health is not what it used to be but he still gets around a little bit. I'm hoping he's going to rest up before I get down there for the race because it would be great to have him there."

On IRWIN Tools:

"Obviously IRWIN is a US company and they have a presence now in Australia and the V8s, and been there for a couple of years. It's great to have them on board, a big company like that. I'm actually looking forward to seeing what the Ultimate Tradesman Challenge is all about."

Alex Davison Quotes

On wanting David Brabham from the outset:

"I started talking to Ross (Stone) and Dave (Stuart - Alex's engineer) about endurance drivers at the end of last year and David was my number one pick. I was really rapt when I was told that we had David for the enduros, then the changes to the Armor All Gold Coast 600 were announced and it worked in our favour. David will be well in the grove by then following his time in the IRWIN Falcon at Phillip Island and Bathurst."

On driving with Brabham:

"I am particularly excited to be racing with David. He's very, very experienced, he's currently racing at a very high level in the American LeMans series and he's still extremely fast. On top of that he's got quite a lot of experience in V8 supercars and done really well in the past. He's used to doing endurance races, he does these races every week, so it won't take him long to adapt (to a V8 Supercar). I think he will fit in really well."

On how he rates Brabham:

"I rate David very highly, he's one of Australia's most successful drivers racing internationally and probably doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He's raced Formula One and has done extremely well in all of the major Sportcar categories and is still winning races in the American LeMans series. I'm looking forward to driving with him and learning something from him. The fact that he has quite a lot of experience in V8s supercars already, and done really well when he has driven them, will give us quite an advantage."

On the advantage of Brabham racing in both endurance events and at the Gold Coast SuperCarnivale:

"David was my first choice to have for Phillip Island and Bathurst, the fact that he will also be with us at the Gold Coast event is a massive bonus, it will give us a big advantage. He knows what to do. There might be a few V8 drivers nervous about how their international driver will adapt to a V8 Supercar, particular at the Gold Coast, with David, thanks to his experience, I'm not nervous at all. I have every confidence in him."

Ross Stone Quotes

"It's great to have David (Brabham) on board with IRWIN Racing. I have followed his career with great interest for a very long time, I used to watch him race Atlantic cars early in his career in New Zealand, and rate him very highly. David's name had been raised for a potential Bathurst drive very early on, so we've been speaking to him for quite a while. We actually had a deal done with him for the enduros long before the Gold Coast event race changes were announced. It made a lot of sense for David to stay on and do the Armor All Gold Coast 600 with Alex, so we are all pretty happy that it worked out. It's a perfect fit for IRWIN Racing. David will be involved in testing and obviously all the races. Everyone in the team is looking forward to him coming out. I think Alex (Davison) and David will be a very solid pairing and have the potential to do well at all three events."

-source: irwin racing