The McLaren GT3 EVO showcased its impressive race-winning potential at the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 11. Racing partner United Autosports fielded two cars, with the number 59 McLaren leading the LMGT3 class for much of the six-hour race, demonstrating exceptional performance.
Both McLaren GT3 EVO cars excelled in the Free Practice sessions and secured top spots in the Hyperpole top ten qualifying session. Josh Caygill initially placed the number 95 car in second, while James Cottingham qualified fifth in the number 59 car. However, the 95 car was found marginally underweight, which pushed it to the back of the field and promoted the 59 car to fourth place.
In the race, Cottingham swiftly advanced the 59 car to second in class during his stint. United Autosports’ efficient pit strategy further boosted their standing, with Nicholas Costa taking the wheel and propelling the 59 car to the lead in the LMGT3 class. Despite facing a gearbox issue, Caygill and Nico Pinto in the 95 car made significant progress, climbing to fifth before retiring in the third hour.
Costa’s thrilling battle for the lead captivated the 88,000-strong crowd at Spa-Francorchamps. Grégoire Saucy, taking over for the final stint, resumed the lead but faced a setback when a Cadillac Hypercar accident brought out the red flag. After the restart, Saucy maintained the lead for as long as possible, eventually finishing fifth. A post-race penalty to a rival promoted the 59 car to fourth place.
Richard Dean, CEO of United Autosports, praised the team’s efforts: “It should have been a podium finish for the #59 crew. The drivers did a great job, battling at the front, and I know there is lots more great racing in store from them this season. For the #95, it was a weekend of highs and devastating lows. Josh did a fantastic lap in Qualifying and made up ground at the start of the race. The gearbox issue was a tough way to end. The thought, time, and effort that is being invested into this programme is evidently clear, with huge steps forward since Qatar and Imola.”
Mick McDonagh, Director of MSO Motorsport at McLaren Automotive, reflected on the progress: “We’ve made further progress and demonstrated that we have race-winning pace. This weekend, there was a genuine chance of a podium, and everyone at United Autosports and McLaren was disappointed that it didn’t happen due to circumstances beyond our control. That only goes to show the stage we are at now, and it only spurs us on to achieve more next time when we make our return to Le Mans. The car is quick, the drivers are more than capable, and with our partners at United Autosports, we should be on the top step very soon.”
