McLaren Automotive has confirmed that multiple championship-winning team Garage 59 will become its official FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) racing partner from the start of the 2026 season*, taking over the race-winning LMGT3 programme from United Autosports.
The transition comes as McLaren Racing accelerates its plans to enter the WEC Hypercar class, competing under the McLaren United AS banner. With the new Hypercar project demanding focused development, United Autosports and McLaren Automotive have mutually agreed that the team will dedicate its efforts to preparing the McLaren LMDh car ahead of its 2027 debut, while ensuring a strong finish to the 2025 WEC season. This year has already seen the McLaren GT3 EVO secure its maiden victory at the Circuit of the Americas under the United Autosports banner.
A Proven Partnership
Garage 59, named in homage to the iconic Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR, brings an extensive track record with McLaren machinery. The team has claimed multiple championships, including the 2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup with then-Factory Driver Rob Bell, the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Pro-Am drivers title in 2022, the Bronze Cup in 2023, and the 2024 British GT Silver Am title. This season, Garage 59 has continued to impress with multiple race victories in GT World Challenge Europe, consistently challenging for the top honours.
“Competing in the WEC with two McLaren GT3 EVOs isn’t just a progression, it’s a statement of intent,” says Andrew Kirkaldy, Team Principal of Garage 59. “We know how intense the competition is in the WEC, but we believe we have the people, the infrastructure, and the resolve to be competitive from day one.”
Building on Success
Since its WEC debut in 2023, the McLaren GT3 EVO has proven itself as a formidable competitor in the LMGT3 class. McLaren made history last year by claiming pole position on its return to Le Mans and becoming the first manufacturer to lock out the front row of the grid. Multiple pole positions and podium finishes culminated in the car’s maiden WEC race victory earlier this year. Garage 59 will now leverage its expertise to continue this momentum and aim for further victories in 2026.
Nick Collins, CEO of McLaren Automotive, highlights the significance of the partnership: “With success achieved by our Formula One team, the new Hypercar project gathering momentum, and the race-winning performance of our GT cars, it’s a very exciting time for McLaren. We thank United Autosports for their valuable contribution to this success, including our maiden WEC race victory earlier this year, and look forward to their future achievements in Hypercar. Motorsport is intrinsic to the DNA of McLaren Automotive, and it’s exciting to continue our journey in the LMGT3 class with new racing partner Garage 59.”
Looking Ahead
Richard Dean, CEO of United Autosports, adds: “It is truly an honour to race in the WEC, so this is not a decision we have taken lightly. When you have the opportunity to race in Hypercar, going for outright victory around the world, including Le Mans, that is something we have worked for, fought for, and dreamed of for years. We are doing everything in our power to make it a success and look forward to returning to the grid in 2027 as the McLaren United AS WEC Hypercar Team.”
As McLaren Automotive enters a new chapter in endurance racing, Garage 59 is poised to carry forward the legacy of McLaren GT racing excellence, setting the stage for a thrilling 2026 WEC season.
