McLaren officially confirmed its plans to bring back the McLaren name to GT
sports cars racing. From 2012, McLaren and CRS Racing will supply and support a
limited number of GT3 racing cars based on the McLaren MP4-12C high-performance
sports car for European-based privateers.
15 years since the McLaren F1
GTR famously won the world-famous 24 Heures du Mans (Le Mans) on its debut, and
12 years since six 'Longtails' last raced at Le Mans, McLaren and CRS Racing, a
successful and experienced UK-based racing team, have begun development work
aimed at turning the 12C road car into a race-winning GT3 sports car. As part of
the development program, McLaren and CRS Racing will compete at a limited number
of European GT races in 2011.
With the 12C's revolutionary lightweight
one-piece molded carbon chassis (the 'MonoCell'), its high levels of downforce
and aerodynamic performance, and its focus on form and function, the 12C should
prove to be a great platform on which to develop a racing car, as well as
visually setting pulses racing at European race tracks.
Martin Whitmarsh,
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal said: "Racing is in our blood - it was
natural to develop a GT3 car alongside the 12C road car. We have a legendary
history in global motorsport, including GT racing, and we aim to maintain that
reputation with this GT3 program, and any future sports car projects that may
evolve.
"The 12C's architecture and design was always aimed at
high-performance and ease of maintenance - two key criteria for potential
customers. Combine that with the vast amount of racing experience in our
automotive team, and CRS Racing's specialist development experience, and the 12C
GT3 should be an exciting proposition for the top teams planning to race in GT3
from 2012."
Andrew Kirkaldy, Team Principal, CRS Racing said: "It is a rare opportunity
to work with a company like McLaren and we are proud to be involved. Together,
we aim to produce the highest quality GT car on the grid. The level of
engineering experience at McLaren is unparalleled and this will be reflected in
the 12C GT3. One of the most important aspects of this program will be customer
service and for that reason we will be building a limited number of cars at a
competitive price. The result will be an incredible GT car with manageable
running costs and good residual value that will provide its owner with an
unrivalled experience."
Further details about the McLaren 12C GT3 racing
car program will be announced in 2011.
Initial plans are for a limited
run of 12Cs developed for the 2012 European FIA GT3 Series, but, as with McLaren Automotive's road car business, conservative growth and expansion will
be considered.
CRS Racing will build, sell and support the 12C GT3 cars
in close collaboration with McLaren. The Leicestershire-based racing team has a
strong pedigree in GT racing in the Le Mans Series, the FIA GT Championship, the
International GT Open and the British GT Championship. CRS also runs two
successful single-seater teams: in the Formula Renault UK Championship and as
Atech CRS in the GP3 Series.
McLaren F1 at Le Mans
1995:
with an F1 GTR piloted by J.J.Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori
Sekiya, McLaren won on debut; four other F1s finished 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th.
1996: six F1 GTR 'LM's finished 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th and 11th
1997: two 'Longtail's
finished 2nd and 3rd.
1998: one 'Longtail' finished 4th, with a second
withdrawn after an accident.
