In the GT3 720S GT3 EVO, McLaren factory driver Tom Gamble will partner with Mark Radcliffe this season.
The duo were intra-team rivals over the winter when they contested the 2023/24 Asian Le Mans Series on opposite sides of Optimum’s garage but have now joined forces for a British GT Championship assault that promises a great deal.
Radcliffe’s first full season in the GT3 ranks and series yielded three overall podium finishes en route to ninth in the drivers’ standings with Rob Bell. He also collected Pro-Am class victory in December’s Gulf 12 Hours aboard a 720S GT3 Evo – the same car he and Gamble will campaign this year.
“2023 was both my first year in a GT3 car and in British GT, and I quickly discovered it wasn’t going to be easy; it was a very steep learning curve,” said Radcliffe.
“But thanks to the amazing support from Optimum and Rob Bell we enjoyed three podiums in our first season together. This small taste of success has given me a lot of motivation to take on the challenge again in 2024, this time with Rob stepping aside to let Tom join me in the fight to compete with what looks like a very strong field of competitors.
“Rob will continue to partner and help me in other championships this year and was with me throughout the winter in various endurance races where we enjoyed several podiums.”
In Gamble he has one of Woking’s select few works drivers who joined the factory ranks at the start of last year. He has two previous British GT3 starts to his name, albeit back in 2019, but did make a one-off appearance in Paddock’s McLaren Artura GT4 at Donington last season.
“I’m really excited to be paired with Mark for the 2024 British GT season and to be returning to some of my favourite circuits,” said Gamble. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity; we have a strong chance of challenging for overall wins and for the championship, which ultimately is our main goal! The car feels great, so we have the tools to get the job done.”
In GT4 2023’s Silver Cup champion, Jack Brown goes for gold this year with new co-driver, Zac Meakin, as the duo embark on a full season campaign together in Optimum’s McLaren Artura GT4.
Last year saw the debut of the British manufacturers’ all-new GT4, and it was Optimum’s McLaren that was unstoppable in the early stages with Jack Brown scoring pole position for the season opening race at Oulton Park, producing a lap that was 1.2 seconds faster than the rest.
The pace and race craft across the Easter Weekend set the #90 apart from the field and proved to be an early title contender. A flurry of poles, podiums, and wins that followed suit left Brown and co-driver Clark as one of the most decorated GT4 pairings on last year’s grid, rounding off the season with the Silver Cup drivers’ title.
This year, Jack will be joined by 17-year-old Zac Meakin. The Brit made his first appearance in the British GT Championship last year at Oulton Park in the Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport RS before switching to the Artura GT4 at Portimão, Portugal in July. He can count on recent experience of McLaren machinery via three podiums and two victories in the GT4 Winter Series.
Zac, just like Jack, also has a British GT pole position to his name. A washed out qualifying for the blue riband event, the three-hour Silverstone 500, saw the former Team Parker racer start up front in class ahead of his new co-driver, Jack Brown.
The British GT Championship heads back to Spa-Francorchamps for the series’ international venture in June. The 4.53-mile circuit in the Ardennes Forest is the home of Jack’s maiden British GT4 victory, claiming class honours back in 2021 with the marque’s 570S. Can Zac repeat the same feat this summer?
“I’m very excited to join Optimum this year, the team had a good season last year and I’m hoping that Jack and I can replicate that or better it,” said Zac. “I’m happy that it’s in a McLaren again as I’m familiar with how the car acts and for the continued support from McLaren too. I’m hoping to achieve an overall championship win this season with Optimum in British GT and will give it my all to achieve this goal with Jack!”
“I’m delighted to be back on the grid with Optimum Motorsport,” said Brown. “To win the Silver title last season was great, but it did feel like we let the overall title slip away from us. This season we will be looking to put that right and give it everything we have to try and secure the overall championship.
“I have a very fast teammate in Zac and with Optimum giving us such a strong car I think we have all the ingredients needed to give it a good go. To continue my relationship with Xpel both on and off track is a real boost in what promises to be a very exciting season. Xpel set incredibly high standards with everything they do and I will do all I can to repay their faith in me.”
