Zak Brown
Encyclopedia
Zak Brown is a professional race car driver, currently residing in Carmel, Indiana. Since his karting debut in 1986, he has won numerous events in international competition as well as in the United States. He is team owner and driver of United Autosports. Brown is also the Founder and CEO of the world’s largest motorsports marketing agency Just Marketing International. In 2009 he also co-founded Historic Motorsports Productions with Indianapolis 500 winner and entrepreneur Bobby Rahal
.
's Donington Park
. Just 2 years removed from karting, Brown received his first accolade as a professional driver, earning recognition in 1992 from the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association. Continuing his success in the Benelux Open Lotus Series Brown turned in top-ten finishes in each of the series races in 1992. The following year Brown finished 4th.
At this point Brown was competing on both sides of the Atlantic, performing in North America’s Toyota Atlantic Series in addition to the Benelux Open Lotus Series and British Formula Three Championship. Brown’s performance in a variety of series led to Racing For America, Inc., naming him as “America’s Most Promising Young Driving Star”. In the mid-90’s Brown added two new racing series to his resume, making his Indy Lights debut at Laguna Seca Raceway in 1995 and competing in a German Formula Three Championship race in 1996.
For the remainder of the decade, Brown primarily competed in America, finishing 2nd in the GT2 category in the famous 24 Hours at Daytona endurance race, as one of the drivers in a factory Roock Porsche
. His success in endurance racing was complimented by an additional 2nd place finish in the 12 Hours of Sebring. He topped off the year with a 3rd place finish at Road Atlanta
.
Series as part of a six-car stable fielded by Ferrari
of Washington. He experienced immediate success starting in pole position and leading every lap of the race to take victory in his debut at Fontana. The following year saw Brown return to full-time competition where he was consistently at the front of the field. The 2008 campaign was highlighted by a thrilling win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
in Montreal.
In 2009 Brown and Richard Dean co-founded United Autosports
. It is a professional sports car racing team with an engineering base in the United Kingdom and a marketing base in the United States. In 2010 the team scored an amazing 3rd place finish at the Total 24 Hours of Spa. The team scored its maiden victory in 2011 in the British GT Championship. In 2012, the team will contest the Blancpain Endurance Series in McLaren MP4-12C cars and the British GT Championship in Audi R8 LMS cars. The team also competes in some event of the Rolex Grand American Racing Series as well as feature events globally.
, Circuit Mont-Tremblant and Sebring International Raceway.
Bobby Rahal
Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
.
Racing career
Brown began his racing career in karting in 1986. Brown won 22 races in 5 seasons from 1986-1990. His success in karting brought him to Europe where his first win was in Formula Ford 1600 at EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
. Just 2 years removed from karting, Brown received his first accolade as a professional driver, earning recognition in 1992 from the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association. Continuing his success in the Benelux Open Lotus Series Brown turned in top-ten finishes in each of the series races in 1992. The following year Brown finished 4th.
At this point Brown was competing on both sides of the Atlantic, performing in North America’s Toyota Atlantic Series in addition to the Benelux Open Lotus Series and British Formula Three Championship. Brown’s performance in a variety of series led to Racing For America, Inc., naming him as “America’s Most Promising Young Driving Star”. In the mid-90’s Brown added two new racing series to his resume, making his Indy Lights debut at Laguna Seca Raceway in 1995 and competing in a German Formula Three Championship race in 1996.
For the remainder of the decade, Brown primarily competed in America, finishing 2nd in the GT2 category in the famous 24 Hours at Daytona endurance race, as one of the drivers in a factory Roock Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
. His success in endurance racing was complimented by an additional 2nd place finish in the 12 Hours of Sebring. He topped off the year with a 3rd place finish at Road Atlanta
Road Atlanta
Road Atlanta is a 2.54-mile road course located just north of Braselton, Georgia, USA. The facility is utilized for a wide variety of events, including professional and amateur sports car and motorcycle races, racing and driving schools, corporate programs and testing for motorsports teams...
.
2000 and Beyond
Brown took a sabbatical from professional racing between 2001-2005 to concentrate on Just Marketing International. In 2006 Brown returned to the Britcar 24 Hours race, winning the event as part of a four-driver team. In 2007, Brown returned to racing in the 2007 Ferrari ChallengeFerrari Challenge
The Ferrari Challenge is a single-marque motorsport championship that was created in 1993 for owners of the 348 Berlinetta who wanted to become involved in racing. It now encompasses three official championships in the United States, Italy, and Europe. Competitors from each series are brought...
Series as part of a six-car stable fielded by Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
of Washington. He experienced immediate success starting in pole position and leading every lap of the race to take victory in his debut at Fontana. The following year saw Brown return to full-time competition where he was consistently at the front of the field. The 2008 campaign was highlighted by a thrilling win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motor racing circuit, venue for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series....
in Montreal.
In 2009 Brown and Richard Dean co-founded United Autosports
United Autosports
United Autosports is an American owned, British-based sports car racing team founded by drivers and entrepreneurs American Zak Brown and Briton Richard Dean...
. It is a professional sports car racing team with an engineering base in the United Kingdom and a marketing base in the United States. In 2010 the team scored an amazing 3rd place finish at the Total 24 Hours of Spa. The team scored its maiden victory in 2011 in the British GT Championship. In 2012, the team will contest the Blancpain Endurance Series in McLaren MP4-12C cars and the British GT Championship in Audi R8 LMS cars. The team also competes in some event of the Rolex Grand American Racing Series as well as feature events globally.
Just Marketing International (JMI)
Brown launched Just Marketing International in 1995. Today, JMI is the world’s largest motorsports marketing agency. The company is partnered by Spire Capital Partners, Credit Suisse and WPP.Historic Motorsports Productions
Brown launched a historic racing series in 2010 with co-partners Bobby Rahal and Peter Stoneberg. The mission statement of the business is to own, manage and stage a series of premium historic racing events and related lifestyle experiences at historic North American venues. In 2011, events will be staged at Barber Motorsports ParkBarber Motorsports Park
The Barber Motorsports Park is a multi-purpose racing facility located on the eastern fringes of Birmingham, Alabama, USA near Leeds. The facility was the vision of George Barber, and includes the Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum. In July 2009 officials announced that Barber will be the site of...
, Circuit Mont-Tremblant and Sebring International Raceway.