Solid Start for Ethan Brown at GT Masters Round 1
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - Ethan Brown delivered an impressive performance in his first European GT3 start, kicking off his campaign in the ADAC GT Masters with good showing in a highly competitive field at the Red Bull Ring.
The highlight of the weekend came during Qualifying 1, where Brown secured a superb P6. Building on steady progress throughout practice, he continued to improve his personal best lap times as he became more comfortable with both the car and the circuit, ultimately delivering when it mattered most.
Carrying that momentum into Race 1, Brown produced a strong opening stint. He got a clean start, settled into a good rhythm and kept consistent pace, managing his tyres well while staying in the fight. After handing over the car in P7 mid-race, his teammate unfortunately suffered some contact and with another car and was spun around and ultimately finished in P12.
Race 2 presented a tougher challenge. Brown’s teammate took the start of the race, completing the opening stint before handing the car over for Brown to take over for the second half. Once in the car, Brown pushed on and worked through the stint but was hampered by overheating brakes. In the end, a P14 was the best result that could be had.
Reflecting on the weekend, Brown said: “It’s been a really positive first GT Masters weekend for me. To come away with P6 in qualifying and a strong first stint in Race 1 gives me a lot of confidence. The field here is incredibly strong, so to be show some competitive running is encouraging.” He added: “The team environment has been fantastic. Everyone at Liqui Moly Team Engstler has been brilliant from the start. It’s a great group to be part of, and the way we’ve worked together this weekend has been very positive.”
Off track, the weekend was equally memorable, taking place within the electric atmosphere of the DTM paddock. With over 50,000 fans in attendance, the event provided a world-class stage and an unforgettable environment for the season opener.
Overall, it was a highly encouraging start to Brown’s GT Masters campaign, laying a strong foundation for round 2 that will be held at the iconic Zandvoort Circuit, Netherlands from 22-24 May.