21-year-old Matt Brabham was one of the real sensations in his second Stadium Super Trucks event, riding out one of the wildest landings seen the history of of the category at the Castrol Gold Coast 600 yesterdsy morning.
After his second placed finish on Friday night, the youngster gained confidence in his truck that was supported by the Def Leppard and Live Australian tour that will take place next month in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Being in the thick of the action he recorded an eighth placed finish on Saturday, however it was Sunday morning when Brabham ignited the Gold Coast crowd.
After a wild ride on the front stretch early in the race, the third generation racer, who was raised on the Gold Coast, topped that - coming down off the jump midway through the beach straight chicane.
He was almost perpendicular to the racetrack when gravity took over, recording an extremely hard landing. The Toyo Tyres rolled right over on the rear - however he was able to right the ship and continue on.
So severe was the landing, Stadium Super Trucks officials stated that in the history of the category, they had never seen anyone land like that and not crash out.
The drama wasn’t over there when late in that race, the brakes were getting towards the end of their life span and he heavily collected one of the tyre barriers.
A trip to the medical centre saw him released with a minor abrasion to his leg but no other injuries.
The Stadium Super Trucks team worked tirelessly to get Brabham’s truck out for the final Sunday race, however it didn’t go to plan. Whilst trying to make his way forward, Brabham collided with his Def Leppard/Live team-mate Scotty Steele.
The impact nearly sent the youngster - who now calls Indianapolis home - into a side on barrell roll.
The net result though was a blown tyre on the rear of the truck, which ended his weekend.
Brabham will be part of the star studded lineup that takes to Valvoline Raceway, Wentworth Street, Granville next weekend. The Stadium Super Trucks will be supported by the fourth round of the Ultimate Sprintcar Championship.
Americans, Burt Jenner (1 win) and Sheldon Creed (2 wins) and Gold Coaster Matt Mingay (1 win) shared the spoils of the weekend, with Paul Morris recording the overall round victory.
“It was such a great weekend here, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be racing at home on the Gold Coast and seeing so many of my family and friends turn out to watch us go racing,” said Brabham.
“It started well on Friday with second place, which was really cool to be sitting there with Burt Jenner and Paul Morris, but after that it kind of didn’t go to plan.
“The first race this morning was pretty wild, the landing hurt me quite a bit but thankfully I was OK. These Stadium Super Trucks are built so strong and tough that I could not only continue on but stay out of harms way.
“After a landing like that and to go nose first into the wall so quickly, to walk away with a little cut is pretty good.
“I can’t wait to get back down to Sydney this week and be racing at the Speedway. It will be a totally different experience for me to honest racing one of these trucks in an arena like that.
“The Gold Coast really turned out for it, I think the Sydney fans will flock to Valvoline Raceway to watch us do our thing.
“I can’t thank Bill Hynes, Def Leppard and Live enough for their support of me coming back home and having this opportunity. They have been right behind me for some time now and it is pretty cool to say you represent them.
“I also have to say thanks to the Stadium Super Trucks team, they worked their tails off to get me back on track after a couple of incidents there, they were awesome.
“Bring on Sydney next weekend!”
WATCH MATT’S HUGE LANDING: http://www.v8supercars.com.au//view/videos/stadium-super-trucks-race-3-highlights
WATCH MATT'S EPIC BATTLE WITH PAUL MORRIS FROM ON-BOARD: https://www.facebook.com/StadiumSuperTrucks/videos/848575438575056/
