Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Green flag in: 
 
 
 
  • Posted 11.03.09
  • BACK TO MACAU GP FOR BRABHAM
  • Revisiting reigning champ's F3 days

  • Brabham's win at Macau provided a springboard to F1.
    For the first time in 20 years, David Brabham is returning to the scene of one of the landmark victories of his driving career - the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix.

    The reigning American Le Mans Series LMP1 co-champion beat the likes of Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, Eddie Irvine – not to mention his own brother Gary – to take victory in the 1989 race.

    “For a Formula 3 driver, Macau is the Holy Grail," Brabham said. "I think everybody recognises it’s a tough race to win. It’s still seen as the place for a young driver to demonstrate his talent.
     
    “I was fortunate enough to win Macau and Formula 3, and then I went from Formula 3 to Formula 1," he added. "Macau can do that to your career.”
     
    Brabham - reigning overall co-winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans - is the youngest son of three-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sir Jack Brabham, who this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of his first title in 1959. Brothers Geoff and Gary are also both successful racing drivers. Sir Jack competed at Macau in the famous Race of Giants, held to celebrate the 25th Macau Grand Prix in 1978, along with legends Stirling Moss, Jackie Ickx, Thailand’s Prince Birabongse, and Macau’s own Teddy Yip.
     
    In addition to his own successful racing career, Brabham also runs a young driver programme, the MSA British Race Elite. This year, two of his students are entered in the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix: Sam Bird and Alexander Sims, and each hopes to achieve what his mentor did 20 years ago – take a coveted FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup victory.
     
    Having not set foot in Macau since 1989, Brabham believes it is time to go back and revisit the event which played such an integral part in his career: “Sometimes you get a flashback, something you read or you bump into someone, and it’s always nice to think about Macau.”
     
    The Windsor Arch 56th Macau Grand Prix will be held from November 19-22, and will feature the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix, the final rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, and a host of supporting races.