Zak Brown treats Sainz family to epic track day

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McLaren boss Zak Brown brought a few precious toys from his personal collection to Navarra this week, treating Sainz father and son to a family track day.

On hand were a 2011 Bathurst 1000-winning Holden Commodore Supercar, an ex-Alan Jones Williams FW07 and an ex-Mario Andretti Lola T332 F5000 beast.

It was anything put a leisurely day in the sun for the trio. But WRC champion Carlos Sainz Sr. was particularly assiduous behind the wheel of the Holden, as was Junior.

"Everyone loved it, it's such a fun car to drive," Brown told Motorsport.com.

"It's just a good race car. It's fast and you can throw it around. They're having a blast. I've got a few cars out here, and that's the one I can't get them out of."

The father and son on-track feud was fast and furious but at the end of the day, Carlos Jr. had the last word.

"He was faster than all of us," said Brown.

"He was probably the least sideways of all of us. But he put the best time down. He loved it. He's pounding around it in pretty aggressively.

"Some drivers like to stick with what they know, but Carlos wants to drive everything.

"He's been in the Formula 5000 car today, he's about to ready to go out in my Alan Jones FW07 championship winning [F1] car."

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.