Matthew Brabham dominated the opening rounds of The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda held at the Sebring International Raceway. His 1st and 2nd places ensured he left Sebring with a 8 point Championship lead.
Having qualified 2nd Matthew leaped away from the start in race 1, and despite several pace car periods was never seriously challenged as he scored comfortable win in his debut USF2000 Championship race.
"It is really fantastic to get my first win in the first race of the series. I can't explain the feeling. My plan was just to stay out front and my plan went through. It was a pretty easy race out in front except for the yellow flags bunching us up. It was a bit disappointing to finish under yellow but I'll take any win as it comes. I am just really pleased with how everything went and would like to thank the guys at Cape Motorsports" a delighted Matthew said after the race.
Race 2 saw much the same, only more so as Brabs quickly gapped the field, when the pace car came out after 5 laps he had built up an amazing 3.5 second lead. Unfortunately the restart did not go to plan and Matthew's Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing teammate Spensor Pigot managed to slip by in turn 1. Another accident this time involving 4 cars halfway around the lap brought out the yellow flags again, officials decided to end the race after several laps behind the pace car robbing Matthew of any chance of regaining the lead.
"Overall, I feel absolutely fantastic about how the whole weekend went. To be leading the championship going into the next race is exactly what I wanted. It's what every driver wants. The race was very tough at the end but it was looking pretty good at the start. I was out in front by quite a bit and was just pounding out the laps. I am disappointed how it finished, but Spencer was very, very good on the restart and managed to get me". A happy but at the same time a little disappointed Matthew said.
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