RARELY does a defending champion come back to try to win consecutive titles facing as many unknowns as Flying B Motorsport at the Bathurst 12 Hour starting today.
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Team owner Peter Edwards and team-mate John Bowe will be joined by ex-Formula 1 driver David Brabham as they try to defend their crown, this time without the help of former Formula 1 driver Mika Salo and Supercar star Craig Lowndes.
Lowndes’ and Salo’s absence is a big factor, but not the biggest.
The remaining trio will drive a completely different car to the Ferrari which hurtled the team to victory at Mount Panorama 12 months ago.
This time they will line up in a Bentley Continental GT3, and Brabham admits that every second he gets in the car before Sunday’s race will be a learning experience.
“It is obviously quite a massive change for the whole team; this is the first proper big race we’ve run in with this car,” he said.
“It did run well in Europe, but we are a real unknown. We could be on the money somewhere, we could be fast, we could be right off the pace. We really have no idea.
“The only time I’ve had in the car was driving up the hill at Goodwood last year in the wet.”
Brabham has been an occasional presence in top-level racing over the past couple of years, not competing in series as such but still lending his considerable experience in most of the major GT races and enduro events around the world.
Only five years ago he was a Le Mans champion, and proved his Mountain credentials long ago when he won the 1997 Super Tourers version of the 1000 alongside his brother Geoff.
After a tough period away from the track in which his father – three-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Jack Brabham – and his mother Betty passed away, getting back to a place like Mount Panorama has him energised and ready for action.
“It is always a great experience to be here. I haven’t lived in Australia for a while now, so coming to a place like this is a treat,” he said.
“The last 18 months has been tough with Mum and Dad both passing away, and a good result for us would be a nice feeling. I think it would be the same for the guys associated with Allan Simonsen, too, though for different reasons obviously.
“For all that, when we get behind the wheel and start the race, it is all about trying to win and get a good result and that’s all you worry about – treating it like a normal race. A good result, though, would be special to reflect on afterwards.”
Brabham says picking a favourite is virtually impossible, but it should be a top-quality affair and one that the rest of the racing world is beginning to embrace.
“Most cars here look strong; it is so hard to pick a favourite. It’s like a 12 hour sprint race. The different cars are going to be strong on different parts of the circuit and the level of talent is huge this year,” he said.
“This race has a lot of traction overseas at the moment. The race fans in Europe will watch the V8s and they do like it, but there’s no racing like that over there.
“This sort of racing is huge over there and the people have embraced it – it’s a big deal.”
Practice will get underway today from 8.15am with a one-hour session, followed by three further sessions throughout the day.