David Brabham might have won the GT1 class with Aston Martin Racing twelve months ago, but his enthusiasm for the Le Mans 24 Hours refuses to abate - especially when he is embroiled in as close a battle for honours as in 2008.
The Australian led through the halfway point of his 15th Le Mans 24 Hours, but the gap between the #009 DBR9 and the second-placed Corvette was just half a minute, and Brabham says he cannot remember any event that has been closer.
I honestly can't remember anything like it, said Brabham after 2000km of competition, Having said that, I knew it would be like this before coming here.
"From a sporting point of view, it's a fantastic competition, but it really means that we have to keep on pushing, all the time. Every lap feels like a qualifying lap. If it carries on like this, we'll still be fighting for the lead on the final lap.
Brabham took over the DBR9 from Darren Turner, who did what was effectively a quadruple stint approaching midnight.
The second works Aston still holds third place in the capable hands of Andrea Piccini and, like its sister, hasn't suffered any mechanical problem so far, despite the fact that both crews are having to push hard.
We're obviously very pleased by the way that the race has started, but we have to remember that we are only halfway through: we have to do it all over again," team principal George Howard-Chappell pointed out, "The advantage that we have is negligible and anything can still happen, particularly as we are expecting rain at some point later this morning.
The Team Modena DBR9 remains sixth in GT1 after a trouble-free stint.
