Mark Radcliffe makes his Intelligent Money British GT debut this year with Optimum Motorsport who return to the series for a full season effort in GT3. Radcliffe will share the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo with factory driver Rob Bell. The team last ran a full campaign in 2020, also running McLarens after switching from the Aston Martin’s which bought the title to Jonny Adam and Flick Haigh in 2018.
The team have made race by race appearences in 2021 and 2022 but are looking forward to a full season in 2023.
Rob Bell’s history in the championship is long a celebrated. Radcliffe on the other hand is a relative newcomer with just a GT4 entry at Brands Hatch. That was aboard the Valluga Racing Porsche Cayaman GT4 Clubsport but he has extensive GT experience in Carrera Cup GB and in the Porsche SuperCup.
Team boss Shaun Goff told BritishGT.com, “To have two cars across the two different categories on this year’s grid is great for the team. 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.”
The team will also announce a GT4 entry later today. It isn’t the first time Optimum Motorsport have run cars in both categories. 2018 saw them contest both the GT3 and GT4 classes, running Aston Martin’s new at the time Vantage GT3 and GT4 AMR.
The championship gets underway at Oulton Park at Easter, but the McLarens are expected to break cover at Media Day on 14th March.
1 Comment
Pingback: McLaren Artura GT4 Makes Optimum's Return in Second Class - British Sportscar Podcast