FOR a man who has such an impressive motor sport resume, David Brabham has certainly had his share of drama at Mount Panorama.

He experienced one of the most sought after victories in Australia when winning the 1997 Bathurst 1000 alongside his brother Geoff, but on the other side of the balance sheet are two DNF’s in the Bathurst 24 Hour and a string of disappointing runs in the Great Race.

Next year Brabham will be back to take another crack at conquering Mount Panorama when he drives a Bentley in the Bathurst 12 Hour.

He will join Australian team Flying B Racing in Bentley Continental GT3 at the February event, not only brining the iconic Brabham name back to Mount Panorama but to the drivers seat of a Bentley racer as well. 

The three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner and double American Le Mans series champion raced a Bentley prototype at Le Mans in 2003, finishing second, and has an affinity with the brand. 

Brabham will share the Flying B Racing Bentley with two drivers from this year’s winning Ferrari – car owner Peter Edwards and double winner John Bowe. 

Flying B Racing was formed this year as an offshoot of defending Bathurst 12 Hour winners Maranello Motorsport, who will prepare and run the car at the event next year alongside their Ferrari entry. 

The British-based youngest son of the late Sir Jack Brabham is affectionately known as a ‘Bentley Boy’ and said the opportunity to race at Bathurst with the brand – and the team – was too good to refuse. 

“When Mark Coffey rang to ask if I wanted to join them to race at the Bathurst 12 Hour next year, I thought a Christmas present had come early,” Brabham said.

Brabham’s return to the Maranello family will come almost 10 years to the day that he and the late Allan Simonsen drove a Ferrari, run by the team, to victory in the Bahrain GT Festival. 

“I have wanted to do this race for the last few years, but just couldn’t manage it, now I can and I am so excited to be racing in a Bentley,” he said

“I was second for Bentley at Le Mans in 2003, so I have a great relationship with them, and to race for last year’s winning team gives me an excellent chance to win what has now become a truly international event. 

“It has been pleasing to see this race grow in stature over the years and the competition there will be a fantastic challenge to overcome. I can’t wait.” 

The last time Brabham raced at Bathurst was back in 2011 when he shared the Irwin Racing Ford of Alex Davison for the second consecutive year, the duo placing 16th.

He has twice contested the Bathurst 1000 as a full-time V8 Supercars driver – in 2003 and 2005 – while he has shared his seat with the likes of Jason Bright, Max Wilson and Owen Kelly.

His victory in the two-litre Super Tourer 1997 Great Race did involve a measure of luck as his BMW 320i actually crossed the line in second.

It was later on that evening that Craig Baird and Paul Morris, who had claimed the chequered flag, were disqualified as Baird had exceeded the maximum number of laps allowed for a single stint.

Brabham also competed in the 2002 and 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour races, but on both occasions failed to make it to the finish.

In 2002 his Porsche 96 GT3-RS – which included Allan Grice as a co-driver – completed 488 laps before retiring and 12 months later in a Ferrari 360 N-G4, Brabham was out of contention after 287 laps.

The 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour runs from February 6-8.