Mclaren Long Awaited Le Mans Entry

Racing Royalty Returns: McLaren’s Long-Awaited Le Mans Entry

McLaren Automotive is set to make a historic return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 26 years after its last appearance at the iconic endurance race. This year, McLaren will enter three GT3 EVO cars, marking the first time the brand has competed in all three prestigious ‘Triple Crown of Motorsport’ events in the…

Mclaren Long Awaited Le Mans Entry

McLaren Automotive is set to make a historic return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 26 years after its last appearance at the iconic endurance race. This year, McLaren will enter three GT3 EVO cars, marking the first time the brand has competed in all three prestigious ‘Triple Crown of Motorsport’ events in the same season, including the Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500.

McLaren’s legacy at Le Mans was cemented with a debut victory in 1995 with the McLaren F1 GTR. Despite the F1 being originally designed as a road car, it achieved remarkable success, including a GT1 class win and second overall in 1997 with the Longtail variant. The F1 GTR’s minimal modifications for racing underscored its exceptional design.

The McLaren GT3 EVO, inspired by the 750S road car, continues this tradition of racing excellence. It features a chassis built with advanced technologies first introduced in Formula 1, ensuring it remains lightweight, strong, and rigid. The carbon fibre Monocage II forms the core of the chassis, providing a safe and dynamic environment essential for high-speed racing.

Both McLaren’s road and race cars share a driver-focused design, with the GT3 EVO utilizing the same steering rack and column as the 750S, ensuring precise and confidence-inspiring handling. The 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, derived from the race track, powers the GT3 EVO. While racing regulations require restricted power, the engine retains its phenomenal power delivery and endurance capabilities, benefiting from advanced technologies such as variable valve timing and dry-sump lubrication.

Racing partner United Autosports will field two of the three McLaren GT3 EVO cars at Le Mans. The No. 59 car, paying homage to the 1995 race-winning F1 GTR, will be driven by Briton James Cottingham, Brazilian Nicolas Costa, and Swiss Grégoire Saucy. The No. 95 car will feature Japanese drivers Hiroshi Hamaguchi and Marino Sato, alongside Chilean Nicolas Pino. The team enters Le Mans following a strong performance at Spa-Francorchamps, where the No. 59 car contended for the win and led numerous laps.

The third McLaren GT3 EVO, prepared by Inception Racing, secured its Le Mans entry thanks to US racer Brendan Iribe’s success in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class. Iribe, making his Le Mans debut with McLaren, will be joined by Briton Ollie Millroy and Dane Frederik Schandorff. This marks a significant milestone in Iribe’s racing career, which began in 2019 with the Pure McLaren GT Series.

Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive, expressed his excitement for the return: “We are thrilled to be returning to Le Mans; the 24 Hours is an important part of McLaren history and the chance to compete again was a major incentive for racing in the World Endurance Championship. It is the ultimate demonstration of the performance and endurance of our cars. I wish all our teams the best of luck and look forward to an exciting race.”


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