Two-time American Le Mans Series LMP1 champion, 2008 Le Mans 24 Hour winner and former Petit Le Mans champ David Brabham is set to bring back his family’s famous team name back to the forefront of the sport.

In the pioneering spirit of triple Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jack, Brabham will return through an innovative model of open source racing to build and fund a sustainable team.

Project Brabham allows the motorsport community to become a key part of the team and shape its future through crowdfunding through a fundraising campaign hosted on Indiegogo.com.

After the first seven days, the new project had already raised 65 per cent of its initial funding target. You can become a backer for the project at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-brabham

Brabham aims to return to the track in the FIA World Endurance Championship next season with a three-year LMP2 programme. In year four, the marque will finally return as a constructor by way of LMP1, with firm intentions of winning the world title for sportscars and the greatest endurance race on earth, the Le Mans 24 Hours. Series such as the FIA Formula E Championship could also be a consideration while Brabham hopes to one-day return to Formula 1.

Still active behind the wheel, Brabham drove for Extreme Speed Motorsport at Daytona and Sebring (pictured right) this year in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and will return to the FIA World Endurance Championship when ESM tackles the upcoming Chinese round of the championship.

“We have endured a long and testing journey to protect and bring the Brabham name back under the family’s control, then decide the next step in the journey of this iconic brand,” David Brabham said.

“I have long dreamt of seeing the Brabham team back out on the track, winning at the highest level and continuing the legacy my father laid down when he first started the team in the Sixties.

“Looking at the normal racing model was not exciting or sustainable enough for me to rebuild the team from scratch. For me to bring Brabham back we have to do things differently. After careful consideration and research we have created a new model of open source racing, which will bring fans closer to the action, inspire drivers and engineers around the world and offer the rare opportunity to be a part of this new but historical race team.

Openness and transparency will be at the core of the Brabham Racing team. Giving fans unrivalled behind-the-scenes access will provide a greater racing experience, incredible insight and knowledge about the team and the wider sport, while Brabham also plans to inspire drivers and engineers across the globe.

“We will open the door to people and share the incredible journey that awaits us. I am a big believer in the power of collective thinking and see many advantages in this model that will help Brabham become a winning team once again, but in a new and inspiring way,” Brabham said.

“Who knows where that could lead? Back to Formula 1, I hope. It will stretch people’s thinking, but I believe the time is right for a change and I am excited at what opportunities lie ahead.

“Project Brabham gives people the chance to be part of the team from the start. Once we have built a large community we will start to see the power of a collective force that will attract the funds and partners to make this journey a success. Come and join us and create another piece of history.”

Fans have the opportunity to invest at several levels – each providing unique behind-the-scenes access to the new program.

The Brabham heritage dates back to 1948 when ‘Black Jack’ started his remarkable journey. From a humble engineering workshop in Sydney, Australia, he went on to dominate the world of Formula 1. In 1966 he became the first and only driver in history to win a Formula 1 World Championship in a car of his own construction, the Repco-Brabham BT19. His third crown not only placed him as one of the top drivers of his generation but one of the most respected engineers.

Back-to-back Driver and Constructor titles with Denny Hulme in 1967 made Brabham top of the racing world and the biggest racing car manufacturer of the 1960s. The team continued long after Jack’s retirement in 1970, Nelson Piquet taking two further Driver titles in 1981 and 1983 under Bernie Ecclestone’s ownership.

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