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David Brabham awarded BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy

Brabham Adds BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy To Season Honours Sportscar legend David Brabham will receive the BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy for the second time in his illustrious career, at the annual prestigious British Racing Drivers' Club Awards 2008 at ...

Brabham Adds BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy To Season Honours

Sportscar legend David Brabham will receive the BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy for the second time in his illustrious career, at the annual prestigious British Racing Drivers' Club Awards 2008 at the Cafe Royal, London, on Monday 8 December. As the highest-placed finishing British or Commonwealth driver, in a British car in the Le Mans 24-Hour race, Brabham will once again jointly receive the award with Aston Martin Racing teammate Darren Turner following their second consecutive GT1 class victory.

The Woolf Barnato Trophy is the latest honour bestowed on Brabham following a stellar season, where he not only won the GT1 class at Le Mans but also narrowly missed out on the American Le Mans Series crown. Brabham's efforts have also earned him two Most Popular Driver Awards, voted for by ALMS fans and Motors TV viewers, and he was recently honoured as an AARWBA All-America Auto Racing First Team member.

The BRDC Trophy is presented in memorial of the three times winner at Le Mans, Joel Woolf Barnato, who was one of the original BRDC-founding Bentley Boys. He was also the driver who famously beat 'Le Train Blue' in the car-versus-train race from Cannes to London.

With two GT1 class victories now under his belt, Brabham came one step closer to Woolf Barnato's record this year. But in 15 years of competing in the arduous and fiercely competitive Le Mans 24-Hour, Brabham claimed the 2008 victory was the closest yet. Partnered once again by Darren Turner and Aston Martin Racing newcomer Antonio Garcia, the Gulf-sponsored Aston Martin DBR9 #009 led this year's race from the third hour and endured heavy rainstorms and fierce pressure from the Corvette Racing entry to take class victory by less than a lap.

"It's a great honour to receive the BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy for the second time with Darren Turner, my trusted teammate," said Brabs. "This year's race at Le Mans was by far the toughest and closest battles I have encountered in 15 years. We were under immense pressure from the start but the Aston Martin Racing Team ran like clockwork and we didn't have a single problem. So this award isn't just for us drivers as we represent the entire team, and the Aston Martin Racing crew did a fantastic job once again."

In addition to his Le Mans 24-Hour GT1 victory, Brabham has also taken the American Le Mans Series by storm this season with Patron Highcroft Racing. Brabham with teammate Scott Sharp secured four class wins, thanks to some legendary Brabham last lap charges, including one outright victory and the first for manufacturer Acura, to finish runners up in the prestigious series.

Not only did Brabham's fantastic form steal the hearts of ALMS fans worldwide but also, it seems, of motorsport journalists from across the USA. The 43 year-old was recently awarded honours as an AARWBA All-America Auto Racing First Team member by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association, joining racing greats such as Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon in Open-Wheel, triple NASCAR Sprint Cup winner Jimmie Johnson, and six-time NHRA Powerade Top Fuel championship winner Tony Schumacher, to name a few. This is the first time that Brabham has received first-team status following previous second team and honourable mention nominations.

"To receive so many awards after such a phenomenal season is truly touching and very much appreciated," continued Brabs. "I am delighted to have been selected for the AARWBA All-America Auto Racing First Team alongside some great drivers. These honours are decided by the motorsport journalists who devote their entire season to commenting on and following each driver's story, so that's something really special."

The star-studded BRDC Awards 2008 ceremony at the Cafe Royal will be introduced by Tiff Needell while BRDC President Damon Hill OBE will be on stage to present the respective trophies alongside each award sponsor. The 2008 BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy is sponsored by Gulf.

-credit: davidbrabham.com

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