McLaren is gearing up for a historic return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking its first appearance at the legendary race in 26 years. This significant comeback follows McLaren’s iconic debut victory at Le Mans in 1995 with the F1 GTR, which completed the brand’s unique ‘Triple Crown of Motorsport’—winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, and Le Mans.
McLaren’s return to Le Mans is also notable for its alignment with the brand’s participation in all three Triple Crown events in the same season.
For this momentous occasion, McLaren Automotive has entered three GT3 EVO cars, showcasing the race-inspired technology, performance, and durability derived from the 750S road car.
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The GT3 EVO cars benefit from the same advanced design principles, featuring the carbon fiber Monocage II chassis, renowned for its rigidity, strength, and lightweight properties, providing an incredibly safe and high-performance environment for drivers.
Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive, Michael Leiters, expressed his enthusiasm: “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.”
Two of the GT3 EVO entries are from United Autosports, McLaren’s WEC racing partner. The #59 car, paying homage to the 1995 Le Mans-winning F1 GTR, will be driven by James Cottingham (UK), Nicolas Costa (Brazil), and Grégoire Saucy (Switzerland). The #95 car will feature drivers Hiroshi Hamaguchi (Japan), Marino Sato (Japan), and Nicolas Pino (Chile).
United Autosports heads to Le Mans following a strong performance at Spa-Francorchamps, where the #59 car contended for the race win and led for numerous laps.
The third McLaren GT3 EVO entry comes from Inception Racing, following a successful campaign by US racer Brendan Iribe in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class. Iribe will be joined by Ollie Millroy (UK) and Frederik Schandorff (Denmark) for his first 24 Hours appearance with McLaren, fulfilling a personal ambition.
The McLaren GT3 EVO cars share several key components with the 750S road car, including the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, known for its variable valve timing, dry-sump lubrication, and lightweight materials. Although the race engines are power-restricted according to GT racing rules, they still offer exceptional performance and endurance.
Despite racing-specific modifications like track brakes, slick tires, and enhanced aerodynamics, the GT3 EVO retains many elements from the 750S, such as the steering rack and column, ensuring the same precise handling and driver feedback. However, features like the active rear spoiler and advanced chassis control systems, which are standard on the road car, are not permitted in the FIA World Endurance Championship regulations.
McLaren’s return to Le Mans highlights the brand’s enduring legacy and commitment to motorsport excellence. The participation of McLaren GT3 EVO cars in the 24 Hours of Le Mans will not only demonstrate the performance and durability of McLaren’s engineering but also celebrate the brand’s historic achievements and continued pursuit of racing success.
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