McLaren Returns to Endurance Racing With Trio of MP4-12C GT3 Race Cars for Spa
McLaren hasn’t competed in endurance sports car racing since the F1 GTR ran at Le Mans back in 1995. That, however, will all change on July 30th with the storied British marque announcing a three car team of MP4-12C GT3 race cars will attempt to endure the 24 Hours of Spa.
Two teams will compete in the GT class, while a third will hit the track in the Pro-Am Cup class, with a total of 10 drivers.
Earlier this year McLaren did run the MP4-12C GT3 in the British GT Championship, but this marks the first 24 hour race for the vehicles.
“I’m delighted with the quality of the drivers we have enlisted as we take the 12C GT3 to its first 24 hour race,” said McLaren Automotive Chief Test driver Chris Goodwin. “This level of endurance racing is a crucial test for the car technically, and we need the best possible team working with us to ensure we receive intelligent, objective feedback on the 12C GT3 driving experience. We will use this feedback as we continue to develop the car in readiness for customers to go racing next year.”
In total, McLaren is planning to deliver 20 MP4-12C GT3 race cars to customer teams to compete in motorsports in 2012.
GALLERY: McLaren MP4-12C GT3
Hit the jump for a run-down of the cars and drivers for the 24 Hours of Spa.
Pro-Cup category
Car 58 (McLaren GT):
Rob Bell – GB
Chris Goodwin – GB
Tim Mullen – GB
Car 59 (McLaren GT):
Andrew Kirkaldy – GB
Álvaro Parente – POR
Oliver Turvey – GB
Pro-Am Cup category
Car 60 (McLaren GT and VonRyan Racing):
Adam Christodoulou – GB
Glynn Geddie – GB
Phil Quaife – GB
Roger Wills – NZL
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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