McLaren Automotive announced yesterday that former professional racing driver Kenny Brack has joined the sports- and supercar company as chief test driver.

A real hand

Brack has 35 years of experience in motorsport including racing in IndyCar (where he won the championship and the coveted Indy 500), CART, F3000 and rallying and as a test driver in Formula 1 and NASCAR.

The Swede will be responsible for leading the dynamic development of all McLaren road cars. Brack replaces Chris Goodwin who fulfilled the role of chief test driver until recently departing for Aston Martin.

Watch a novice driver smash a McLaren 720S into an Audi R8 by clicking this link.

Not a newcomer

The 52-year-old has previously worked closely with McLaren as a driver consultant, especially on the dynamic development of both the McLaren 720S and McLaren Senna. He has also been assisting on yet-to-be-announced future models.

In 2017, Brack set a blistering time around the Nurburgring Nordschleife of 6 min 43,22 sec driving a McLaren P1 LM, a record for road-legal cars.

You can watch that record-setting lap by clicking here.

In his own words

“It is a great gift to be able to work with your passion and break new boundaries, and to have the opportunity to work with the highly skilled and determined team at McLaren Automotive is just fantastic,” explained Brack. “I am driven by a desire to win, to achieve results; for me, the key dynamic traits needed to explore my own limits and those of a vehicle on a race track are predictability and consistency. These elements are also fundamental for a road car to be both safe and satisfying and as a result you’ll find them integral to the McLaren 720S and the McLaren Senna.”

Exception car control

Watch a driving masterclass as Brack manhandles a wild GT40 in the rain at the Goodwood Revival in 2013: