“The Saleen is just fun to drive”

David Brabham of ACEMCO Racing

By Margot Orenchuk

Photos courtesy ACEMCO Racing and Kate Shaw

SEBRING, Fl. (March 16, 2004)  — Welcome to the 3^rd and final installment in our ACEMCO Saleen exclusive interviews with the “Top Gun” of GTS drivers - David Brabham! David arrives in Sebring to help pilot the #63 Saleen to victory lane on Saturday.  And when David and his teammates step up on that podium - David very well might be elbowing his former teammate Jan Magnussen on his way up! RFM sincerely thanks David for talking time out to talk to us about his testing time in the ACEMCO Saleen. (Are you going to show us your Rolex, David?) 

Margot Orenchuk: It’s been a long time since Petit Le Mans. What has been keeping you busy during the “off-season?” 

David Brabham: I have enjoyed the break, really. I did 40 trips last year and I felt drained by the years’ end. I didn’t look for much at Daytona because I wanted a longer break than normal. I wanted to have some more time with the Family, fitness and work on a 2004 race program. 

MO: You jumped behind the wheel on Feb 26th; how did she feel? Had you ever had the chance to drive the S7R before? How does the ACEMCO Saleen handle compared to the Ferrari? 

DB: This was the first time that I drove a S7R. The car is very different to drive than the 550, because the Ferrari is a front engine car, and the S7R has the engine behind the driver. The engine in the S7R has a lot of torque compared to the Ferrari, the Ferrari has more top end. I am still getting used to it and I really enjoy driving it and the guys in the ACEMCO team are great to work with. 

MO: Have you ever driven with either of your teammates, Terry (Borcheller) or Johnny (Mowlem) before? 

DB: I have never driven with Johnny, so I am looking forward to being teammates, as we are friends. Johnny impressed me during the testing and I am pleased to see he has moved up into GTS. Terry had joined Panoz for a brief period, which was a blow to him and the team. He has done very well since then, and it is a strong trio. 

MO: What is the most exciting characteristic of the ACEMCO Saleen for you? 

DB: I think it has a lot of potential to be a race winner. It is just fun to drive. 

MO: Do you enjoy driving at Sebring? Has this been a kind track to you? 

DB: I do like the track and it has been good to me. I have had a second and a 3^rd and have won in class, but not overall. I haven’t been driving an Audi R8!

MO: Can you tell us yet which one of you will be qualifying the car this weekend? 

DB: I have no idea, but I would not be surprised if it is Terry because he knows the car better than Johnny and I. 

MO: Who are you looking most forward to mixing it up with when the checkered drops on Saturday? 

DB: I have been thinking for a while a scenario of Jan Mags and I racing for the lead, with a few laps to go, and I give him the big heave hoe for giving me all those stop and goes the last 4 years! 

MO: What do you think is going to be your greatest challenge this weekend? 

DB: To finish on the podium at the toughest track In The World. 

MO: I am sure you are looking forward to showing what the ACEMCO Saleen can do at Sebring; what do you think will surprise everyone the most? 

DB: Well, the first race is always a tough one, because no one really knows where the competition is in relation to your car. The team is working very hard and Pirelli have come up with some amazing tires. We will just have to wait and see. My prediction is the Vettes will have an advantage because they have been around longer with their cars. I do think however that the ACEMCO Team will be very strong during the year.