Brown to race in GT4 event at Zandvoort

Henry Valantine
Zak Brown McLaren PA

Zak Brown feels F1 and IndyCar can learn from each other on TV coverage.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown is getting back behind the wheel to compete in the GT4 European Series in mid-June.

Brown will be piloting a McLaren 570S for United Autosports – a team which he co-founded and co-owns – around Zandvoort between 18-20 June, which coincides with the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard on the same weekend and is likely to mean Brown will not be attending the race.

The 49-year-old has competed in a myriad of motorsport disciplines, taking part in mainly historic races in recent years but has previously raced full-time in several sportscar and GT series, alongside single-seater racing in British F3 and Indy Lights in his early career.

Brown will race alongside fellow United Autosports co-founder Richard Dean at Zandvoort in the third round of the GT4 European Series, meaning United will have three cars in the field over the course of the race weekend.

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“I’m so excited to be getting back behind the wheel of a race car at Zandvoort,” Brown said in a United Autosports statement.

“I have tested with the team in our McLaren a couple of times now and I’m so ready to head to Zandvoort to see what we can do.

“It will be nice to return to modern day racing, having focused on my historic racing for the last few years… and I can’t wait to get back on track.”

Team-mate Dean added: “It’s been a long time since I last raced a current United Autosports car so I’m really looking forward to racing the McLaren GT4.

“Zak and I have only really competed in historic events over the last few years, but we have been pretty successful, managing quite a few podiums together over the last few years. I’m excited to be taking part in the GT4 event in Zandvoort, it’s one of Europe’s great venues.”

Zandvoort is due to be hosting its first Formula 1 race since 1985 later on in the season, with the race’s sporting director Jan Lammers recently revealing that they plan on hosting a capacity crowd of 105,000 fans at the Dutch Grand Prix in September, should the Covid-19 situation allow it.

Mandatory mask-wearing rules are expected to be eased in the Netherlands by the start of September, which would pave the way for fan attendance and create what’s likely to be a raucous homecoming for Max Verstappen, at what would be his first ever home race in Formula 1.

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