Three McLaren MP4-12C GT3 racing cars will star in this weekend's 24-hour endurance race at Spa-Francorchamps, marking the first debut for a McLaren sports car in a day-long race since the McLaren F1 GTR started at Le Mans back in 1995.
This will be the second race in the 12C GT3 development programme, as McLaren GT readies the car ahead of the delivery of 20 vehicles to privateer teams for the 2012 season.
The first race, earlier this month in the Spa round of the British GT championship, proved to be a fine rehearsal for the Spa 24 hours. The single McLaren entered secured a pole position and a fourth-place finish - a pretty solid start for any racing programme.
The McLaren GT driver line-up for the Total 24 Hours of Spa (to give it its full name) includes CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy and McLaren Automotive Chief Test driver Chris Goodwin. Both are Directors of the new McLaren GT company, which is led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh.
The third 12C GT3 will be run in the Pro-Am Cup category by VonRyan racing.
"I was very happy with the performance of the 12C GT3 in its debut race at Spa," said Goodwin. "We secured an amazing pole position at the first attempt and importantly for future customers; the 12C GT3 was reliable, fast and easy to drive."
Sounds like a good start to us, chaps - best of luck with the 'big one' this weekend...
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