Brabham takes pair of top-fives at Brands Hatch

Team USA Scholarship winner and 2012 USF2000 champion Matthew Brabham recorded a pair of fifth-place finishes in the opening rounds of the Formula Renault BARC Winter Series at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.

"My race pace was quite quick and I managed to get past a few people," said Brabham, 18, of Boca Raton, Fla., of the 15-minute races.

In wet conditions in the second race, he spun on the first lap and fell to 19th. But Brabham recovered to advance the 14 positions.

"I learned a lot about passing in the wet," he said. "The team did a fantastic job, the car was great and I can't thank everyone enough for the support and the opportunity."

The final two races will take place Nov. 10 at Rockingham in England.