Matt Brabham finishes fgourth in Stadium Super Trucks debut

21-year-old Matt Brabham finished fourth in the Stadium Super Trucks event at the Honda Indy Toronto after getting a last minute call-up from Robby Gordon.

Brabham was in Toronto driver coaching and managing data for some Mazda Road to Indy competitors as well as meeting potential sponsors for the remainder of 2015 when one of the drivers slated for the Stadium Super Trucks pulled out.

He was drafted in literally moments before the start of first practice on Friday.

In wet conditions, Brabham was able to bring the Toyo Tires supported truck home fourth in Sunday's race. This backed up his sixth placed finish in Saturday's race.

The 600-odd horsepower Stadium Super Trucks can get up to 200-kilometres per hour on a street circuit like Toronto and fly up to 50 metres in the air.

They have thrilled crowds wherever they have performed and will be racing on the streets of Matt’s childhood home of the Gold Coast this October in support of the Castrol EDGE Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercar race.

The opportunity to jump through the air in the Stadium Super Truck completed a diverse week for the youngster, which also saw him test a NASCAR-style Late Model for David Gilliland Racing in Charlotte.

The Honda Indy Toronto completes a busy week for the Stadium Super Trucks team as well, after they appeared at the X-Games in Austin, Texas.

Brabham began the season driving in an Andretti Autosport FIA Formula E machine before making the switch to the first two events of the Indy Lights Series.

QUOTEBOARD - MATT BRABHAM:

“I had an awesome time driving the Toyo Tires Stadium Super truck today, the conditions were very wet and I was on a very steep learning curve. So to finish fourth was fantastic and I had so much fun.

“The jumps look much bigger inside the car than they do from the outside, and even though I felt fast through the corners, it was the jumps that I found the hardest to get used to and to keep the speed up.

"In Saturday's race, I got a good start however I was going over the jumps side by side with Robby entering lap two and I landed crooked off the last jump and lost it. I spun around and got going again. Then as I caught up to the pack the very next lap they guy in front lost it over the jumps and rolled over onto his roof and slid into the wall! It was crazy. Totally insane.

"I had an absolute blast and pretty much the most fun I have had In racing. I'm still learning how to hit the jumps properly. Every time I go sailing through the air I think I'm going to crash. I'm not used to being up near the top of the catch fence on a street track multiple times a lap. However it makes for a adrenaline rush and some awesome fun.

“I couldn’t stop smiling under my helmet.

"I have to give a massive thank you to Robby Gordon and his team for giving me the drive, and I hope I can drive it again soon.”


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