“We've just got to make sure that we push in every area and like last year have no mistakes – just service in the pit-stops, fast pit-stops, having good ‘out' and ‘in' laps and so forth. Everything has to be perfect to be able to win this race.
“Last year Corvette had exactly the same type of race as we did – an absolutely perfect race – but we just had more speed. I anticipate them being closer this year, so I'm really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be an even tougher fight than last year.
“The Saleens were fast last year too, but they weren't quite ready. They've obviously had another year to prepare now, though, and there are some private-tier teams out there that are going to be strong too. Certainly we don't have it all our own way, nor Corvette – I think last year's qualifying showed that, and when the race got going we were still fairly closely-bunched after a few hours before it kind of stretched out and we were the ones out front. I really do feel it's going to be a tough competition, but I think all of us are looking forward to the challenge.”
Indeed, the former
Formula 1 star has an impressive record in sportscars, with innumerable trophies to his name, class glory at Le Mans in both 1993 and 2007 and second place outright for another iconic British marque – Bentley – in 2003. What's more, the DBR9 he will be competing in again this year is no longer bedecked out in its traditional British Racing Green colours, but rather the celebrated Gulf livery, with the famous oil company set to mark the 40th anniversary of its debut in the race in 2008.
“In some ways Gulf is like a legendary trademark name at Le Mans,” Brabs acknowledged. “It goes back many years and covers some fantastic times there. To combine the two – Aston Martin and Gulf – is pretty special, so just to be a part of that is great.
