Brabham up for a big pressure test
THE famous Brabham name will be in action at the Gold Coast 600 this weekend, but third generation racer Matt Brabham says that carries no pressure.
“The only pressure is what I put on myself,” the 21-year-old told the Bulletin shortly after arriving from the US yesterday.
A former student of The Southport School, he is the grandson of Sir Jack Brabham, the celebrated Australian who won three Formula One championships.
Matt’s father Geoff and several other family members have carved out lengthy motorsport careers – something which Matt believes is a help rather than a hindrance.
“It definitely helps. The biggest thing is everyone is understanding of how hard it is and what it takes to do well in racing,” he said.
“It’s too often you see families that don’t really quite understand it and put a lot of pressure on.”
Brabham added the family name “opens doors” and offers inspiration to match or better his family’s achievements.
“(But) I’ve still got that teenager approach where I look at my dad as my dad and when he tells me stuff I’m like, ‘Oh what do you know, you’re just my dad’.” Starting today, Brabham will drive in the Stadium Super Trucks at the Gold Coast 600 against the likes of Robby Gordon and Paul Morris, who was an Australian Super Touring Championship teammate to Geoff Brabham in the 90s. Despite his dual nationality, Brabham will be siding with “Team Australia” rather than the American contingent led by Gordon.
“I think if I don’t align with the Aussies that Paul Morris will come chasing me – that’s enough to scare anyone,” he joked.
Brabham admits he was “hooked” by his only previous experience in the vehicles in June at Toronto, where he overcame the new challenge of massive jumps to finish sixth and fourth.
The youngster has once raced at the Gold Coast 600 back in 2010, when he competed against a Formula Ford field including Chaz Mostert.
His Australian cameo aside, Brabham has no doubts about where his career is headed.
“My goal for now is 100 per cent focused on IndyCar and trying to get in to the Indy 500,” he said.
“I want to be the next Australian to race in the Indy 500 and hopefully the first one to win it.”
“I had two test days in an IndyCar with Andretti so I got my feet wet and now I’m hungry as ever.”