McLaren Automotive Motorsport confirms no fewer than 17 cars and 33 drivers have been entered for the inaugural McLaren Trophy season which will commence at the Paul Ricard circuit in France on June 2-4.
Launched in July last year, the McLaren Trophy is a racing championship designed to put the emphasis on ambitious amateur (Bronze) drivers and to nurture pro-am partnerships. It will showcase the new Artura Trophy, a 585PS thoroughbred racecar. Capable of lap times close to GT3 cars, it is based on the Artura GT4 and by making straightforward ECU and aerodynamic adjustments, drivers can also enjoy the versatility of competing in GT4 competition with the same car. A separate 570S category will allow owners of the previous 570S Trophy cars to compete on the same grid for class victories and championships.
Within weeks of the initial announcement, several teams committed to entering cars in the inaugural season, all of which are established GT competition outfits including some new to the marque. Demand has been especially high for the new Artura Trophy car, with the 2023 season initial quota of 10 cars fully allocated earlier this year.
The McLaren Trophy is designed to put the amateur driver first and while professional drivers will be part of all driver pairings in the top Artura Trophy class, the Bronze-rated drivers will compete for the overall championship. The entry includes several established names from GT racing, who will be challenging for race victories alongside their team-mates.
McLaren Trophy, Europe races will support Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS events, including the Blue-Riband Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa. A season prologue has also been confirmed to take place at the Paul Ricard circuit in France on May 22. This will give teams and drivers a chance to test and acclimatise ahead of the inaugural race, which will also take place at the French Grand Prix venue.
