Optimum Motorsport makes its full-time Intelligent Money British GT Championship return this season with a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo crewed by class debutant Mark Radcliffe and factory driver Rob Bell.
Shaun Goff’s squad, which won the overall drivers’ title with Flick Haigh and Jonny Adam in 2018, hasn’t mounted a full-season senior class challenge since 2020 when it also ran McLarens. It has made several race-by-race appearances since then, however, and most notably at Silverstone last year when Nick Moss and Joe Osborne finished third overall.
Its 2023 GT3 entry pairs the experience and speed of Bell with Radcliffe, who made his championship debut at Brands Hatch aboard Valluga Racing’s Porsche Cayman GT4 last year. His extensive racing CV beyond that predominantly encompasses Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Supercup.
Bell, meanwhile, requires little introduction. McLaren’s longest-serving works driver scored the 720S GT3’s first-ever British GT win back in 2019 when he finished third in the overall standings alongside Shaun Balfe. He has also completed much of the test and development work around the new-for-2023 Evo kit that Optimum’s 720S will feature this year.
His and Radcliffe’s entry is one of two run by Optimum this season. The second, which is contesting the GT4 class, will be revealed later today.
“To have two cars across the two different categories on this year’s grid is great for the team,” said Goff. “Rob has a wealth of experience in the GT3, and Mark’s shown great pace in our recent test day. I’m looking forward to contending for the overall title once again.”
Oulton Park hosts the opening round of this year’s Intelligent Money British GT Championship on April 8 & 10.