Optimum Motorsport McLaren entry in GT Cup with Ron and Stewart Linn
Optimum Motorsport is pleased to confirm that they will field a McLaren 570S GT4 this coming weekend in the penultimate round of the GT Cup Championship, which takes place at Donington Park. Ron and Stewart Linn therefore join 13 other entries in the popular Pro-Am GTH class for what will be their debut together in the series.
“We tested at Donington a few weeks ago, and for me, it is quite a change to what I’m used to,” Ron explained. “It’s the first time for me in a left-hand drive race car, and the race weekend will be quite a learning experience.
“It’s a good championship with quality teams and drivers in all of the classes, so we both look forward to driving a great car on a great circuit whilst keeping in mind that we’re not expecting to arrive in the championship and run at the front; we’re entering this round simply to enjoy some good, quality racing.”
Ron comes from a background in Ginetta competition, running a full season with Optimum Motorsport in 2018, securing a podium position in just his third race in the championship at Oulton Park. Selected events followed in 2019 with a best result of second at Donington Park.
Stewart is the more experienced of the pairing, with title success in the AVO Ginetta Championship in 2006, followed two years later with GT4 title honours in the British GT Championship. More recently in his long career of Ginetta competition, he won the Dubai 24 Hours in 2017 in the Optimum Motorsport G55 GT4.
The GT Cup Championship affords plenty of track time over the race weekend, with two short 25-minute sprint races for the designated Am driver as well as two, 50-minute, Pitstop races where the Am starts and then hands over to the Pro driver.
It may be a new series for Ron and Stewart, but Optimum Motorsport has competed successfully in the championship in the past, securing GTA honours with Dan O’Brien in 2016. More recently, the team has raced numerous GT3 championships around the world and recently made its 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in the GTE class.