Not to be outdone its rivals, McLaren commits to the 720S GT3 Evo to a place in the World Endurance Championship
By Matt Bird / Friday, 6 October 2023 / Loading comments
McLaren has confirmed its intention to race in the 2024 World Endurance Championship, the first time it has fielded a factory sportscar effort since the days of the F1. It aims to enter a pair of 720S GT3 Evos in the LMGT3 class that’s new for WEC in 2024, which could see up to 36 GT3 cars compete on the endurance calendar.
McLaren is teaming up with United Autosports for the 2024 season; the Wakefield-based team has a long relationship with the Woking-based manufacturer, having campaigned the 12C GT3 car way back when. It secured a Le Mans class win and a WEC championship as recently as 2020 (in the LMP2 category) so United are surely an ideal partner to have on board. Especially with Zak Brown as one of the co-founders.
This isn’t a confirmed entry just yet, however, not least because the finer details of LMGT3 haven’t yet been thrashed out. And McLaren’s request to enter would have to be approved by the ACO. But there seems little reason for any obstacles to be placed in its way, particularly with that iconic sportscar racing heritage from the 1990s. A factory-backed McLaren in GT motorsport feels very right.
CEO Michael Leiters said of the announcement: “Motorsport remains a fundamental part of McLaren’s future of performance strategy, and we have long viewed the WEC as a natural fit for demonstrating the performance capabilities of our cars. This includes a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans that is an intrinsic part of our enduring success in motorsport… We have selected United Autosports, who we feel shares our passion for endurance GT racing as well as the McLaren brand and, like McLaren, has a history of success in motorsport.” Sounds like a dream team is forming already, so expect another significant update before 2023 is out. Best get thinking about coming to Le Mans with PH next year…
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