Patrón Highcroft drivers David Brabham and Marino Franchitti teamed up with some of the top drivers from around the world to fight malaria at Brabham’s Celebrity Karting Challenge at UK Autosport International 2010 in Birmingham on Friday the 15th.
Brabham was joined at the event by his 2009 Le Mans teammates, Alex Wurz, Franck Montagny and Nicolas Minassian and competitors from Le Mans and the 2009 American Le Mans Series, including Allan McNish, Emanuele Pirro, Guy Smith, Marino Franchitti, Johnny Mowlem, Paul Drayson, Johnny Cocker and Rob Bell.
Three-time British Rally Champion, Mark Higgins and 2009 British Rally Champion Keith Cronin also showed up to drive, as did DTM driver Paul di Resta.
The pros were joined by some of the best new drivers in America, thanks to Patrón Highcroft Racing’s Duncan Dayton’s support of the Road Racing Driver’s Club Team USA Scholarship program.
The Team USA Young Guns fielded a four-man team for the event. The squad featured Conor Daly, who finished third in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship; Connor De Phillippi, winner of the 2009 Walter Hayes Trophy; Josef Newgarden, 2008 Formula Ford Festival Champion; and Patrick Barrett, winner of the 2007 Pacific F2000 Championship.
Dayton has been a long-time supporter of the Team USA concept that has helped launch the careers of the likes of Jimmy Vasser, Bryan Herta, Buddy Rice and AJ Allmendinger.
“We’re very proud to have helped the Team USA program over the years and to have the guys participate in Brabs’ charity event is a great extension of that concept,” Dayton said in a team press release.
“It is the perfect link for us because it also fits in perfectly with Highcroft’s efforts to help Malaria No More.
Some Europe’s best young drivers were also featured, including former McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award winner Oliver Turvey, 2009 Mazda Star Champion Adam Christodoulou, and Autosport Club Driver of the Year and BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year nominee Sarah Moore.
Each team in the Celebrity Karting challenge featured two members of the public who paid £300 to participate, teamed up with two experienced drivers. The 90-minute event was the high point of the Autosport International motorsport trade show, one of the largest in the world.
David Brabham is Special Ambassador for Malaria No More UK. His Celebrity Karting Challenge raises funds and awareness in the fight to end malaria.
Last year Patrón Highcroft raised more than $63,000, which went to buy mosquito nets to protect Africans at risk from this pernicious disease.
Before the event, Patrón Highcroft announced that Marino Franchitti would be the third driver on the P1 championship-winning ALMS team.
Brabham was joined at the event by his 2009 Le Mans teammates, Alex Wurz, Franck Montagny and Nicolas Minassian and competitors from Le Mans and the 2009 American Le Mans Series, including Allan McNish, Emanuele Pirro, Guy Smith, Marino Franchitti, Johnny Mowlem, Paul Drayson, Johnny Cocker and Rob Bell.
Three-time British Rally Champion, Mark Higgins and 2009 British Rally Champion Keith Cronin also showed up to drive, as did DTM driver Paul di Resta.
The pros were joined by some of the best new drivers in America, thanks to Patrón Highcroft Racing’s Duncan Dayton’s support of the Road Racing Driver’s Club Team USA Scholarship program.
The Team USA Young Guns fielded a four-man team for the event. The squad featured Conor Daly, who finished third in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship; Connor De Phillippi, winner of the 2009 Walter Hayes Trophy; Josef Newgarden, 2008 Formula Ford Festival Champion; and Patrick Barrett, winner of the 2007 Pacific F2000 Championship.
Dayton has been a long-time supporter of the Team USA concept that has helped launch the careers of the likes of Jimmy Vasser, Bryan Herta, Buddy Rice and AJ Allmendinger.
“We’re very proud to have helped the Team USA program over the years and to have the guys participate in Brabs’ charity event is a great extension of that concept,” Dayton said in a team press release.
“It is the perfect link for us because it also fits in perfectly with Highcroft’s efforts to help Malaria No More.
Some Europe’s best young drivers were also featured, including former McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award winner Oliver Turvey, 2009 Mazda Star Champion Adam Christodoulou, and Autosport Club Driver of the Year and BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year nominee Sarah Moore.
Each team in the Celebrity Karting challenge featured two members of the public who paid £300 to participate, teamed up with two experienced drivers. The 90-minute event was the high point of the Autosport International motorsport trade show, one of the largest in the world.
David Brabham is Special Ambassador for Malaria No More UK. His Celebrity Karting Challenge raises funds and awareness in the fight to end malaria.
Last year Patrón Highcroft raised more than $63,000, which went to buy mosquito nets to protect Africans at risk from this pernicious disease.
Before the event, Patrón Highcroft announced that Marino Franchitti would be the third driver on the P1 championship-winning ALMS team.
