Brabham to Join Borcheller and Mowlem
SPRING LAKE, Mich., Feb. 16, 2004 – Adding to its already potent driver lineup for the 2004 ALMS season, ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS owner, Jeff Giangrande has announced that David Brabham will join the team’s principal drivers, Terry Borcheller and Johnny Mowlem, in the ACEMCO MOTORSPORTS Saleen S7R for the 52nd running of the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 17-20, 2004.
Owner of one of the most famous last names in racing, David Brabham has had a distinguished career in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). After racing Prototypes the first four years of the series, he switched to the GTS class in 2003 driving a Ferrari 550 and was runner-up in the Championship with three wins.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge of Sebring this year,” commented Brabham. “Not only am I going to have the opportunity to drive the competitive Saleen S7R, but I’ll be racing head-to-head with my old friend and teammate, Jan Magnussen. This should be fun!”
The dynamic duo of Borcheller and Mowlem thus becomes the terrific trio of Borcheller, Mowlem and Brabham for the opening round of the 2004 ALMS season as Jeff Giangrande places an exclamation point on his determined bid to end the Corvette and Ferrari dominance of the GTS Class.
Borcheller and Mowlem arrive at Sebring having already scored wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the endurance race that signals the start of a new season of international road racing every year in North American. Terry finished first overall in a Daytona Prototype while Johnny finished second overall and first in GT behind the wheel of the Orbit Racing Porsche.
The 2004 12 Hours of Sebring represents a renaissance for both the S7R and Pirelli as Saleen returns to the ALMS after a year’s absence from factory support for the S7Rs and Pirelli continues to expand its presence in the North American marketplace.
“Since 1995, Pirelli has won seven Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships each in North American sports car competition but none since returning from a one-year hiatus in 2002,” stated Peter Tyson, Pirelli’s Vice President of Marketing. “We’ve been trying to build a “Dream Team” around the Saleen with drivers like Borcheller and Mowlem and Brabham since our return, and we can’t wait until the green flags fall for qualifying at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March.”
To that end, ACEMCO, Saleen and Pirelli have been conducting an aggressive testing program during the next several months, including extensive tire testing at both Sebring and Homestead in preparation for the 12 Hours of Sebring.
“Anyone who has watched the GTS battle the last several years knows that this is where the competition is,” stated Giangrande, ACEMCO’S owner. “We’re also very aware of what the privateer Saleen S7Rs accomplished in their first two seasons of competition winning seven of eight championships, 37 of 72 races and holding the majority of the class poles and fastest lap records,” he continued. “With Terry, Johnny and David on board, we’re looking for nothing less than a GTS Class victory at Sebring.”
With more than 50 years of manufacturing experience, ACEMCO AUTOMOTIVE is a leader in the engineering, manufacture and assembly of metal stampings for light trucks, SUVs and passenger cars with three plants located in the western Michigan area. Products include frame and engine mounting components, as well as interior metal insert assemblies. ACEMCO’s Team Goal is to provide Customer satisfaction, manufacturing Excellence and
quality products while Maintaining a clean, safe working environment and Continuously improving processes to ensure 100% On-time deliveries.
Pirelli Tire North America specializes in the manufacture and marketing of highperformance car, light truck and motorcycle tires and currently has three of its highly advanced MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) modules in operation in a new factory in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the American OEM and Replacement markets. For more information, visit the Company’s web site at www.us.pirelli.com.
DAVID BRABHAM
Date of Birth: September 5, 1965
Birthplace: London, UK (raised Sydney, Australia)
Residence: Maidenhead, England
Marital Status: Married, wife Lisa
Children: Jayson, Sam, Finn
Team (Class): ACEMCO Motorsports – Saleen S7R (GTS)
Website: www.davidbrabham.com
PR Contact: Jack Gerken; (714) 436-9900; Jack@Gerken.org
Owner of one of the most famous last names in racing, David Brabham has had a distinguished career in the American Le Mans Series. After racing Prototypes the first four years of the series, he switched to the GTS class in 2003 driving a Ferrari 550 and was runner-up in the Championship with three wins. At Sebring, “Brabs” joins Terry Borcheller and Johnny Mowlem behind the wheel of Jeff Giangrande’s ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7R.
2003: Entered GTS ranks and drove Prodrive Ferrari in partnership with longtime cohort Jan Magnussen.
Began season at Sebring in Team Bentley livery along with Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell and helped pilot team to third place. Finished 2nd at the Le Mans 24hrs with Bentley.
Was asked to drive the #80 Ferrari in year’s third ALMS event, Infineon, and drove to 3rd place behind the two Corvette entries, with whom Brabham/Magnussen would battle the rest of the season.
Ran 4th at Trois-Rivieres, again trailing the Corvettes, then 3rd at Mosport, just behind other Ferrari entry.
Took sensational last-lap win at Road America, then declared GTS winner at Laguna Seca when #88 Ferrari was excluded due to technical violation.
Won 3rd consecutive race at Miami, with Darren Turner substituting for Magnussen, before dropping to 2nd position at Petit Le Mans to #88 machine driven by Tomas Enge and Peter Kox.
Finished second in GTS driver championship points.
2002: Campaigned all year in P900 Panoz LMP vehicle, with Magnussen.
Started slowly at Sebring, covering just 56 laps before mechanical problems ended the day.
Deficiencies corrected, piloted Panoz machine to win at Sears Point, edging Tom Kristensen and Johnny Herbert on lead lap.
Ran 3rd at Mid-Ohio.
Encountered misfortune again at Road America, dropping out (mechanical) after 69 laps.
Rebounded again at Washington for big win over Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello.
Took 5th at Trois-Rivieres and 4th at Mosport.
Had another 4th place finish at Laguna Seca, then ran 5th at Miami.
Added David Donohue for long-distance Petit Le Mans and came in 7th, Brabham’s final race with the Panoz factory team.
2001: Continued with Panoz factory team, with co-driver Jan Magnussen, starting season with new Panoz LMP07 design.
Opened year by taking 3rd position at Texas.
Car came undone at Sebring, retiring after 109 laps (mechanical).
Brought back older Panoz LMP1 and ran 3rd at Sears Point behind pair of factory Audi entrants.
Broke Audi dominance with win at Portland, then followed up with solid 2nd position at Mosport.
Claimed 2nd win at Mid-Ohio, fending off three challengers on final lap.
Dropped out at Laguna Seca after 57 laps (accelerator), then ended season 8th at Petit Le Mans.
2000: New co-driver Jan Magnussen with Panoz factory team.
Went to the post 11 times.
Blown engine at Sebring continued string of bad luck at 12-hour event.
Ran 2nd in Charlotte behind JJ Lehto and Jorg Muller.
Went overseas and again finished 2nd to Lehto-Muller before turning tables on them with win in the rain at Nurburgring.
Took 5th position at Sears Point, then did not see action at Mosport after Magnussen was involved in crash on lap 41.
Came back nicely at Texas with 3rd place showing and was 2nd at Portland.
Took 3rd at Petit Le Mans, but retired very early at Laguna Seca (engine) after 66 laps.
Ended Las Vegas race in 6th position.
After Magnussen ran just two laps at Adelaide (alternator), Brabham partnered with Greg Murphy and Jason Bright in another Panoz car and finished 3rd, 9th overall.
1999: Raced the entire inaugural season of ALMS with Panoz factory team. Partnered with Eric Bernard at Sebring, dropping out (fire) after 103 laps.
Drove to 5th position at Road Atlanta, then he/Bernard took 2nd place at Mosport behind fellow Panoz drivers Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell.
Sears Point yielded 2nd place finish, followed by victory at Portland over JJ Lehto/Steve Soper and Magnussen/O’Connell, all three on lead lap.
Brabham and Bernard then won Petit Le Mans, one lap up on nearest competitor.
Mechanical failures forced dropout near end of Laguna Seca and blown engine at Las Vegas put damper on end of first ALMS year.
BRABHAM NOTES: Born in England but grew up in Australia and is an Australian citizen
One of few drivers to have won at least one race in every year the ALMS has existed
Has raced around the world in various forms of competition, mainly in sports cars since his F1 career
GT1 class winner at Sebring in 1998
Second overall and GTP class winner in Daytona 24 Hours in 1992
Brabham has had two different Formula One rides
In 1990, drove for Brabham F1, starting eight times. Mechanical woes forced five retirements, and two others resulted from crashes, though Brabham did finish 15th at French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard
Returned to Formula One in ’94, making 16 starts for Simtek team
Had two 10th place finishes, at Catalunya in Spanish Grand Prix and Hockenheim in German Grand Prix
Also raced in Formula 3
Won ’91 Spa 24 Hours touring car event
Also raced in Japan with John Nielson and was 1996 Japanese GT champion
Began his Panoz association in ’97
Won British Rallycross event at Brands Hatch in ’93
British Formula 3 Champion in 1989
Early racing experience includes 4th overall in 1986 Formula Ford 1600 competition and the’87 Australian
Gold Star Champion in Formula 2 series
Competed in 1988 British Formula 3 Class B series finished 3rd and won the overall Championship the following year
Fourth in the Australian Formula ford Championship (four wins) in 1986
Raced a Ford laser (two wins) in 1985
First race in a 100 cc sprint kart in Australia in 1984; won the Canberra Cup and the New South Wales Country Karting Championships
First drove at eight years old in an EH Holden on the family farm in Wagga, Wagga, Australia
Most memorable victory came over future F1 legend Michael Schumacher in the Macau F3 World Cup
Son of Sir Jack Brabham and brother of former IMSA star Geoff Brabham
Favorite drivers as youth were Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost
Lived in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for a year in 2002 and 2003 before moving back to England
Favorite sports team is Manchester United
Avid player and follower of soccer
Also enjoys cricket, golf, tennis and running