Extreme Speed Adds Brabham, Bell for Petit Le Mans

Photo: John Dagys

Extreme Speed Motorsports confirmed Thursday that David Brabham and Rob Bell will complete its driver lineup for next weekend’s American Le Mans Series-ending Petit Le Mans.

Brabham will rejoin Scott Sharp and new full-season driver Anthony Lazzaro in the team’s No. 01 HPD ARX-03b, while McLaren factory driver Bell will share the wheel of the No. 02 entry with Johannes van Overbeek and Ed Brown.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on the team since Sebring and they’ve made huge progress with the P2 cars,” said Brabham, who drove the No. 01 car at Sebring. “I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel.

“I know Atlanta well and I had a great race in 1999 at the second Petit Le Mans, so it is a special place for me. I know we have a very strong driver lineup, so it gives us and the team a great shot at winning.”

It will mark Bell’s second-ever start in a prototype, having piloted Drayson Racing’s Lola B09/60 Judd in 2009, coincidentally also at Road Atlanta. The Englishman was a part of ESM’s Ferrari lineup at Sebring and Petit Le Mans in 2011.

“I enjoyed my races in 2011 and think I fitted in well to the team ethos,” Bell said. “The difference this time is the move from GT to prototype which makes it even more interesting for me.

“I’m really looking forward to driving with Ed again and pairing up with Johannes. I can’t wait to get started and hopefully repay their faith in me.”

While P2 rival Level 5 Motorsports locked up the teams’ championship at VIR, ESM team owner Sharp remains in a tight points race for the drivers’ title, trailing leader Scott Tucker by six points.

A class win for the No. 01 car and a third place or lower finish for Tucker would hand the drivers’ championship to Sharp.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John