David Brabham's sensational late-race pass on the tight road course at Lime Rock Park last Saturday made history for Acura's American Le Mans Series programme.
The personable Aussie and team-mate Scott Sharp gave Acura its first overall victory in a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the #9 Patrón-backed Highcroft Racing ARX-01b as Brabham reprised the move he made to win the LMP2 class earlier in the year on the streets of Long Beach.
“Lime Rock was a big one," Brabham admitted, "It was close to the team headquarters, and it was Acura's first overall win. It has been good year so far for me, with wins at Long Beach, Le Mans and Lime Rock. The Long Beach and Lime Rock wins were very exciting for me and the rest of the team. Long Beach was very special as, to win there for Patrón in their title race and in the backyard of Acura, was big for our team. Winning in four ALMS classes is great for me, but it doesn't mean as much as the effort that the team put forth.”
For IndyCar convert Sharp, the 2008 season has been something of a pleasant whirlwind and now, with two wins and a pole in five races, he and Brabham come to the demanding Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Saturday's Acura Sports Car Challenge as leaders of the Acura charge.
“To get the first overall win this year for Acura and Patrón, it's a big accomplishment," Sharp acknowledged.
But the Patrón Highcroft duo won't be the only Acura squad holding down the fort at Mid-Ohio.
Former Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran returns to the popular facility for the first time since he won pole in the 2001 CART event. The two-time CART champion retired from the cockpit in 2003 after winning his final race at Texas but, after serving as the sporting director for Honda
F1 for three years, decided to form his own operation and teamed with Acura as he became an owner-driver. De Ferran Motorsport made its ALMS debut in May at Utah, with the Brazilian teaming with young French star Simon Pagenaud to take third place.
