Brabham survives Sandown – Just !

Matthew Brabham had an eventful race meeting at Rd 2 of the Victorian State Championships held at the Sandown International Raceway this week end. After a hard fought 3^rd place in race 1 on Saturday Matthew was denied any chance of a podium finish by being shunted off the race track in both races on Sunday.

Brabham qualified well on Saturday to start the first race in 3^rd position, despite a mistake in turn 6 on what could of been a pole lap according to the data.  But a great start saw the CAMS Rising Star / Minda Motorsports entry grab the lead into the first corner, a slight problem with grip in the slow corners leading on to the straights meant Brabs could not hold the position but still finished a close 3^rd.

Race two on Sunday morning had the fast starting Brabham again in the lead going into the 1^st corner, but despite the teams hard work overnight it was difficult to stay in the lead. Matthew was in a very competitive 3^rd on the last lap when he was hit by another car and knocked off the race track although he still managed to limp home in 8^th. The force of the crash knocked the wheel off the other car but luckily there was only bodywork damage on Brabham’s car.

That meant an 8^th place starting slot for the final race, and showing daring and patience Matty Brabs had charged up to 3^rd place by the last lap taking the fastest lap of the race in the process only to be rammed from behind and punted off the race track in the last corner. An angry Brabs did cross the line in 6^th with bent rear suspension, and still managed to finish 4^th overall in points for the event.

“I don’t know what to say after a week end like that”, a dejected Matty Brabs said. “You race hard but fair but then someone has a brain snap and all your hard work goes out the window. But as my Dad said this will not be the last time this happens so forget about it and look forward to the next race. So that’s what I am going to do.”

Brabham’s next race will be Round 4 of the Genuine Ford Parts Formula Ford National Championship at the Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin, NT on June 20^th.