As part of the Masters Historic Festival last weekend, McLaren CEO Zak Brown made a successful competitive return to the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit as a competitor, with a run to the podium in his Ferrari F430 GTC.

You would normally find Brown sat on the McLaren pit wall as part of the Formula One, or with his McLaren Indy car team where time allows, so it was impressive that he found time in his busy schedule to take to Brands Hatch and do some racing, something that he is also known for.

Brown, has not raced at Brands Hatch since he was on the grid as part of the British GT in 2013, and it was quite the return as he finished on the podium in the overall race and took the class victory.

Brown shared his time at the wheel of his Ferrari with Richard Dean, his long-time friend and partner with whom he founded the United Autosports team. The on-track high-point for the duo came on Sunday afternoon when, in addition to winning their class, Brown and Dean reached the outright podium in the second Masters Endurance Legends race of the weekend.

The moment was sweetened as the duo were joined on the outright rostrum by Brown’s son, Max, who was piloting a McLaren MP4 12C GT3 which was also entered by United Autosports. Brown received his class trophy on the podium personally from MotorSport Vision Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer.

In addition to taking to the track himself, Brown also took time out of his Sunday afternoon to take part in a live interview session in front of a live audience. In front of hundreds of onlookers, many wearing McLaren Papaya, Brown talked enthusiastically about Brands Hatch, McLaren and motorsport more widely.

Brown wasn’t the only big name on-site either. Former Grand Prix drivers Stefan Johansson and Martin Donnelly were both in attendance too, specifically to take part in the Masters Demo Legends sessions for ‘80s and ‘90s F1 cars. Johansson delighted crowds at the wheel of a turquoise Leyton House March, while Donnelly lapped the GP loop in a distinctly liveried Footwork Arrows.

Images courtesy of Brands Hatch