David Brabham underlined his American Le Mans Series LMP2 title-winning potential with another class podium in the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio on Saturday.
The UK resident finished just a few tenths shy of class winner Romain Dumas after a sensational surge through from sixth overall and fourth in class to fourth overall and second in class in the thrilling final stages.
Mid-Ohio seals Brabham and team-mate Scott Sharp's double second-place class finish after their first outright win of the season from pole at Lime Rock last weekend. The Patron Highcroft Racing duo's efforts secure second place in the LMP2 championship standings as the series moves into the second half of the season.
Brabham took control of the Acura ARX-01b at Mid-Ohio just past the 50-minute marker, to join the race under the safety car fifth overall and third in class after a solid start from Sharp.
Green flag racing resumed on lap 44 with one hour gone and Lucas Luhr in the lead. Emanuele Pirro took Simon Pagenaud for second on lap 45 while Romain Dumas and Brabham were in hot pursuit.
With mere tenths covering the second to seventh placed-cars, Dumas slipped past Pagenaud for third on lap 47 while Brabham was in the thick of the five-car battle for second for the next 10 laps, staying within tenths of Pagenaud throughout.
A full course yellow on lap 58 was cleared on lap 62 with one hour and 15 minutes left to run, only for the safety car to be called out again on lap 68. The leading pack took the opportunity to pit for fuel and tyres but a pit fire in Pagenaud's garage promoted Brabham to rejoin the fray fourth overall and second in class.
The field was bunched up by the time racing resumed on lap 80 and Brabham lurked just one tenth behind Pirro's rear wing with fifth-placed Adrian Fernandez two tenths adrift of the Patron Highcroft Racing Acura. Passed by Adrian Fernandez and Patrick Long, Brabham dropped to sixth and fourth in class in the closely knit field but soon recovered.
