Matthew Brabham clinched the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires on Aug. 11 with a commanding victory in Race 2 of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières in Quebec.
Starting from the pole position, the 19-year-old driver of the No. 83 MAZDASPEED car for Andretti Autosport claimed a 5-second victory in the 40-lap race on the street circuit. It was his 11th victory and 13th podium of the season -- both single-season records in the series -- with two races remaining.
"What an awesome year. I could not have predicted a season like this," he said. "I'm so happy for the team and all my supporters. Everyone has worked so hard and it has been perfect. I really have to thank Andretti Autosport and also Mazda for the wonderful year.
“At the start of the season, I couldn’t have predicted that I would have a year like this. I am just so, so happy."
The grandson of three-time Formula One World Champion Sir Jack Brabham and son of Le Mans 24 Hours winner and two-time IMSA champion Geoff Brabham was the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.
“I am definitely looking forward to the future," Brabham continued. "The United States has been wonderful for me. It was the perfect move for me at this point in my career and I am really looking forward to moving up to Indy Lights next year. I remember when I first went to St. Petersburg and I saw the Lights cars on track and I thought these cars are really cool and I want to get in one of those.
"I am really looking forward to being a part of Dan Andersen’s series again next year. Last year and this year were run smoothly and perfectly. I have never been in a series this organized and well-run before."
Andretti Autosport locked up the team championship ahead of the Oct. 5-6 season finale in Houston as part of the IZOD IndyCar Series race weekend.
Brabham scored his 10th victory in Race 1 on Aug. 10, leading all 40 laps following the standing start.
Diego Ferreira of Juncos Racing, second in the championship, was the runner-up in both races for his 10th and 11th podium finishes of the season. JDC MotorSport’s Juan Piedrahita finished third in both races.