Tuesday 26th July 2011

McLaren Heads To Spa 24hrs With GT3 Triple

Trio of MP4-12C racers will mark car's 24-hour race debut

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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...

[VPower]

Superb News for us sports car fans!
Can't wait to see it at Le Mans!

My view has always been the McLaren F1 is the BEST Super car because it has won Le Mans outright.

Let hope this can achieve similar honours someday!

[vz-r_dave]

The have not lost all of their form during the function process, such as F1 or LMP1 prototypes of recent years.

[UltimaCH]

Speed matters.... Good luck

[E30M3SE]

Is this being 'Televised' anywhere?

[Jules_T]

New front end looks great. Any chance of some high res shots as Pic of the Week?

[[AJ]]

Certainly one of the best looking race cars in existence. Best of luck at Spa, do us all proud!

[zebedee]

E30M3SE said:

Is this being 'Televised' anywhere?

motors tv are showing a lot of the race live

[Mermaid]

zebedee said:

E30M3SE said:

Is this being 'Televised' anywhere?

motors tv are showing a lot of the race live

Cheers - look forward to it.

[team will]

Photos from said race at Spa.......

[team will]

[xspencex]

This year's Spa24 looks to be an absolute cracker. Somethig like 60 odd cars, most of which are GT3 so competition is going to be super tight as well. Dare I say it this will be the most competative endurance race in recent time. . .and not a diesel in sight!

[E30M3SE]

Mermaid said:

zebedee said:

E30M3SE said:

Is this being 'Televised' anywhere?

motors tv are showing a lot of the race live

Cheers - look forward to it.

[marcosgt]

The FIA GT3 is pretty close, but I notice this is part of the Blancpain Endurance series.

I'm not sure how competitive that series is (Not a dig, I really don't know!), but all those cars from one class should be entertaining even around a long circuit like Spa!

I will be watching - Will be interesting to see how the McLarens do - I won't be betting on a win for them, personally though.

M.

[senninha2]

Mermaid said:

zebedee said:

E30M3SE said:

Is this being 'Televised' anywhere?

motors tv are showing a lot of the race live

Cheers - look forward to it.

What time is this on please? Would love to see this thing in anger ....

[Johnboy Mac]

team will said:

Photos from said race at Spa.......

Bloody well looks good. A great colour than Mac orange.

[zebedee]

senninha2 said:

What time is this on please? Would love to see this thing in anger ....

this weekend, for 24 hours! Check Motors TV webpage for the bits they are showing, but it is several good chunks of it.

[DiscoColin]

"The third 12C GT3 will be run in the Pro-Am Cup category by VonRyan racing." - Presumably to be known as Von Ryan's Express ??

[BelfastBoy]

Any chance of adding a few bodykit options so the road car could look something like the racer?!

[hermes]

Are there any 458s in the same race???

[Tadite]

Why isn't this a GT2?