BRABHAM SET FOR 12 HOUR OUTRIGHT CHANCE THANKS TO LONGHURST
In a week of high and lows, Matthew Brabham has welcomed an invitation to be a part of an outright GT3 team at next year’s iconic Bathurst 12 Hour.
Former Australian Touring Car ace Tony Longhurst has committed to the entry for Brabham and fellow young Australian Aaron Seton.
Longhurst who is a former two-time Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 winner, wants to build a relationship with a competitive manufacturer and to create a team which could potentially include a high profile star linked with the chosen marque.
The commitment comes a day after Brabham was replaced in the Team #18 Supercar for this year’s PIRTEK Enduro Cup.
Longhurst drove with Brabham and Seton to win class C in The Boat Works BMW GT4 earlier this year and became a personal supporter of both drivers the following week.
Brabham said he was “humbled” by Longhurst’s commitment in what had been one of the more difficult weeks of his career.
Brabham actually made his GT3 debut in a DeVilbiss-backed Mercedes AMG-GT3 in a round of the Pirelli World Challenge at Portland, Oregon earlier this month and was competitive before an accident from his teammate ended the day.
Brabham is now concentrating on winning this year’s Stadium Super Truck championship, which he leads by 30 points and which continues at Road America in Wisconsin on August 24-25 where it will run with the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Brabham’s 2018 campaigns are supported by the Preston Group, DeVilbiss, Gale Pacific, Coolaroo, The Boat Works, PIRTEK and the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, of which he is a proud ambassador.
WHAT MATT HAS TO SAY…..
“It is has certainly been a week of highs and lows, but you just have to push on,” said Brabham.
“The support I have received has been humbling and for Tony to announce this commitment to myself and Aaron for next year’s Bathurst 12 Hour is terrific.
“This year’s 12 Hour was one of the most enjoyable events I have been a part of and this deal for next year really gives us something to work towards. It will be terrific to team up again with Aaron who I rate highly as a driver and a person.
“I enjoyed my GT3 debut in the DeVilbiss Mercedes-AMG at Portland and this driving one of those cars at Bathurst will be a blast.”
WHAT TONY HAS TO SAY…..
“Matt Brabham and Aaron Seton are two of the best young talents that we currently have in Australia and we need to be nurturing that,” Longhurst said.
“I am not sure whether we will buy or lease a car or what brand it will be, but we have a little bit of time and I am sure we will spark a bit of interest now that we have committed.
“These two kids were faultless for us at Bathurst earlier this year and they deserve a shot in an outright car.
“Matt did a full customer ride day for us at Queensland Raceway on Wednesday and is one of the most mature and sponsor-friendly young men I have worked with in 40-odd years in the business.
“He has also proven time and time again that he is a hell of a driver.”