Sam Brabham carved out his own piece of family history at Thruxton, Hampshire, this weekend, turning both first career pole positions into his first two Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship race wins in dominant lights-to-flag fashion while setting the Formula Ford lap record.
The 19 year-old Sibford Ferris, Oxfordshire, resident led the Formula Ford field from the off at the fastest circuit on the BTCC calendar, his best ever qualifying performance securing pole position starts for the first and third races of the weekend.
An awesome start for round seven put Brabham clear of JTR teammate Jayde Kruger and able to extend a one second advantage over second placed Harrison Scott. But before the 20 minute race could get into a flow, a lengthy full course yellow came into force on lap three following Chris Mealin’s heavy off, from which he thankfully emerged ok.
Managing the pressure of six laps circulating under the safety car while debris was cleared, Brabham made the perfect restart and remained unchallenged to take his long-awaited and much deserved first career race win.
Brabham delivered another cracking start from the third row (reverse grid) for round eight to run fourth following a close opening lap dice with Scott and Ashley Sutton. In blistering form, the son of sportscar legend David Brabham posted the Formula Ford circuit lap record of 1:11.910 on lap five while embroiled in the fight for second. Although a move at the Complex didn’t quite pay off in the final stages, Brabham fought back to get important points for fifth.
Back on pole for the third and final race of the weekend, the third generation driver once again nailed the start to lead Kruger and Scott from the first turn. Brabham never looked back, brilliantly managing the tyres and fuel consumption to notch up his second Formula Ford victory 0.6 seconds clear of teammate and current championship leader, Kruger.
“This weekend has just been incredible, said Brabham. “We started off with two pole positions – the first of my career – and to get my first ever race win is just something so special and a day I’ll never forget. We got solid points in race two on the reverse grid and I’m really chuffed to have set the series lap record.
“The last race was just fantastic. I was maintaining the gaps and pushing when I needed to. I had to think about the tyres, manage the fuel and back off where I could without losing too much time. It was the perfect race and now I’m aiming for more of the same at Oulton Park.
“If this happens to be the last time Formula Ford races around Thruxton then I’m proud to have taken the last series win and been the fastest Formula Ford driver.”
Brabham’s outstanding Thruxton form retains sixth in the title fight, the gap to fifth now standing at just 14 points ahead of the next Oulton Park rounds on 7-8 June.
