David Brabham is ready to embark on one of the busiest seasons of his 29-year motorsport career, having added an assault on the Blancpain Endurance Series title with United Autosports to contesting the
FIA World Endurance Championship with JRM Racing.
The triple
Le Mans 24 Hours winner and double
American Le Mans Series champion joins the Leeds-based United Autosports team for the first time and will endeavour to propel its McLaren MP4-12C GT3 towards a first major championship title and the Pro Class crown.
In one of the most talented trios on the Blancpain grid, Brabham will be joined in the #22 car for the six-round Series by
GP2 race winner and McLaren GT factory driver Álvaro Parente and United Autosports-managed youngster Matt Bell.
“I've been impressed with United Autosports' development in recent years," Brabham commented, "They are an ambitious team looking to grow and that's something I always enjoy being a part of. We turned Highcroft Racing from a small team into one of the most potent sportscar outfits in the world, so I'm sure I'll be able to help United Autosports develop.
“When you have the calibre of drivers we have at United Autosports, it gives everybody a boost, as you know everything is being taken seriously and the target is to win the championship. This is a serious effort and there's no excuse. The minute we hit the ground in testing, the focus will be on winning. We've got a competitive package and I see no reason why we can't take the title.
“I relish new challenges, to test you as an individual and a group. Whenever you're in that situation, you learn the most and I'm looking forward to those experiences and working with Richard Dean, Zak Brown and my team-mates. Having won the 1996 Japanese GTC GT500 driving a McLaren F1 GTR, it will be interesting to take charge of the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, as I'm sure it is going to be fast and a joy to drive.”
Earlier this month, at the
Autosport International show, Brabham was also confirmed as part of JRM Racing's all-star line-up to contest the inaugural
FIA World Endurance Championship, driving the Honda Performance Development ARX-03a alongside team-mates Karun Chandhok and Peter Dumbreck.
The switch from the sister Sumo Power GT team will see the 46-year old return to prototype racing after a year competing in the
FIA GT1 World Championship. Significantly, he will also be reunited with HPD, the marque in which he sealed back-to-back
American Le Mans Series titles with Highcroft Racing.
In fact, for over four years Brabham was embroiled in the development of the HPD prototype. During that time, he achieved an astonishing catalogue of achievements for HPD and Highcroft, including first overall ALMS win, first ALMS LMP1 victory, first LMP1 championship spoils and the first team to record back-to-back ALMS titles.
Brabham is now eager to take charge of the latest generation HPD LMP1 car for JRM Racing.