From title rivals to teammates: Zac Meakin and Mikey Porter join forces for GT Open season finale

From title rivals to teammates: Zac Meakin and Mikey Porter join forces for GT Open season finale

They were this year’s British GT GT4 championship title protagonists, battling each other on track throughout the 2024 season, but next weekend, Zac Meakin and Mikey Porter will team up for both their GT3 race debuts at the Temple of Speed.

Optimum Motorsport announces today that the team will return to the International GT Open for the first time since last year’s season finale at Barcelona, with a one-off entry into the final round at Monza, Italy.

The Wakefield-based squad will field the #84 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO in the Pro class, with British duo Zac Meakin and Mikey Porter joining forces where both will make their GT3 race debuts following a successful season racing on home soil in GT4 machinery.

Newly crowned British GT GT4 champion, Zac Meakin said: “I’m extremely excited to be moving up to GT3 and getting to race against the big leagues now. I can’t wait to race against a new field at Monza and I’m ready to give it all!”

British GT Silver drivers’ champion, Mikey Porter said: “I’m really looking forward to making my GT3 debut with Optimum Motorsport in the McLaren. I’m feeling confident going into the race weekend and with my teammate Zac after our recent success in British GT, I’m looking forward to the challenge!”

The action kickstarts Thursday 17th October with two test sessions before the official practice which gets underway Friday. The weekend’s timetable differs to the usual GT Open format as the season finale takes on a singular endurance race instead of the traditional two-race event.

Saturday morning will see one driver contest in a 30-minute qualifying session, with the other driver contesting in the second qualifying later that afternoon. The average lap time taken by each of their best laps will be used to determine each duos starting position for Sunday’s GT Open Monza 500.

Coverage of the event starts Saturday morning, with the action available live and for free on GT Open’s YouTube. Lights out for the main event on Sunday 20th at 12:00 CET (+1H BST).