Jack Brown is switching back to McLaren machinery this season after joining Porsche Sprint Challenge GB runner-up Charles Clark aboard Optimum Motorsport’s new Artura GT4.
Theirs is the second of the Wakefield-based team’s two Intelligent Money British GT Championship entries. The first, a 720S GT3 Evo featuring Mark Radcliffe and Rob Bell, was revealed this morning.
Optimum has a rich British GT4 history that includes two drivers’ and one teams’ title, but it hasn’t contested the class since 2019. A confirmed two-car entry in 2020 was ultimately derailed by Covid-19, after which Shaun Goff’s squad concentrated its efforts on GT3.
But now it’s back with a multi-class programme featuring two promising young drivers.
Brown was a winner at Spa during a 2021 season spent racing the now-previous generation 570S GT4 with Balfe Motorsport before swapping to Century’s BMW M4 last term.
“I’m really looking forward to this season; British GT is going from strength to strength and 2023 is shaping up to be the most competitive year yet,” he said. “It’s a long season and as always you will need a bit of good fortune to win the championship, but that is our goal, and we will be pushing for wins from the off.
“Optimum’s credentials speak for themselves; they are a top team in every respect. In Charles I know that I have a super-fast team-mate and so all of the ingredients are there to have a very competitive and enjoyable season of racing. I can’t wait to get going!”
This year marks a significant change for BRDC Rising Star Clark who has solely raced Porsches since making his racing debut in 2019. He finished second overall in the Porsche Club GB Championship during his first season of competition before embarking on the Cayman GT4-based Sprint Challenge GB.
That car is a very different proposition to the new McLaren Artura GT4, which makes its domestic debut with several teams this year.
“British GT has always been a dream for me since I was a kid. I’m really looking forward to the challenge with Jack,” said Clark.
“Optimum Motorsport are a world-class team with lots of titles across the globe. The new McLaren Artura provides us with an excellent package to compete at the front and we are all super motivated to win and fight for the title.
“Jack’s got great experience and pace in the championship and I’m looking forward to sharing the car with him this year and getting some great results.”
Oulton Park stages the opening round of 2023’s Intelligent Money British GT Championship on April 8 & 10.