The new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 is set for its competitive race debut in 2012,
following an intensive development program in 2011. Prototype versions of the
12C covered more than 35,000 miles on real world and simulated test tracks last
year as McLaren GT worked towards the delivery of an incredibly efficient,
reliable and rewarding to drive race car in 2012. The competitive race season
begins for new McLaren GT customer teams in Germany on 31 March, with the
opening rounds of the VLN and ADAC GT Masters championships at the Nürburgring
Nordschliefe and Oschersleben respectively.
The MP4-12C sports car, on which the GT3 racer is based, will also make its
debut as a safety car in the FIA GT1 World Championship race at the Nogaro
circuit in France on 8-9 April.
Ten McLaren MP4-12C GT3s in the
Blancpain Endurance Series
Fans of the Blancpain Endurance Series can look forward to seeing ten 12C GT3s
line up on the grid for the season opener in Monza next month, after completing
the competition's official first test last week at Paul Ricard HTTT. The McLaren
race cars will wear the unique liveries of ART, ASM, Boutsen Energy, Gulf
Racing, Molitor Racing, United Autosports and Von Ryan Racing. The JAS team will
also take part in selected rounds of the championship. Footage of the new 12C
GT3s at the test event in southern France can be seen at
www.youtube.com/mclarenautomotivetv.
Gemballa Racing and Doerr Motorsport will compete in the 12C GT3 in the German
VLN series, which includes the famous 24 Hour Nürburgring endurance race in May.
Molitor Racing and Gemballa Racing will run in ADAC GT Masters, and French FIA
GT1 Champions Hexis Racing will line up on the grid of the FIA GT1 World
Championship. Series Champions Apex Motorsport will enter a new 12C GT3 in
selected rounds of this year's British GT championship, while the Lapidus Racing
team will contest the International GT Open series, and also compete in
forthcoming 24-hour races at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Circuit de
Catalunya in Spain.
Teams racing the 12C GT3 in 2012 have enlisted the services of highly successful
racing drivers for the 2012 season. Former Formula 1 drivers Mark Blundell and
David Brabham (also a Le Mans 24hr winning driver) will race for United
Autosports and 2011 Formula 2 competitor Jack Clarke will drive for Boutsen
Energy. Rob Bell, Alvaro Parente and Alexander Sims, who recently joined the
McLaren GT driver line-up for 2012, will be placed with customer teams, while
McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin will also contest selected
races in a 12C GT3 throughout the season.
Andrew Kirkaldy, Project Manager for McLaren GT said: "I'm excited that we are
so close to seeing the 12C GT3 in its first full race season. The feedback I
have received from customers that have already taken delivery of the car is very
positive.
"The 2011 development program was challenging, but had many highlights. We
started with a pole position in qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps in the British
GT Championship, and ended the race season with a third place finish in Macau.
"In one year, McLaren GT has taken the 12C GT3 from concept to race readiness.
We will learn more about the car in the early part of the season - and
expectations will naturally be high of a car full of Formula 1 technology - but
our objective is to makes the 12C GT3 as much a pleasure to own and run as it is
race."
Customer teams will be supported by official McLaren GT engineers throughout the
2012 season, and will also have access to a full range of spare parts at each
race. Away from the track, the teams will be offered the use of McLaren's
simulator, which was used by McLaren Automotive to specify the groundbreaking
12C road car, and by McLaren Racing to develop all of its successful recent
Formula 1 cars.
New McLaren GT Drivers Track Test the MP4-12C Road Car
McLaren GT recently announced its official 2012 driver line-up with the
acquisition of Rob Bell, Alexander Sims and Alvaro Parente. As part of an
induction program to McLaren GT and McLaren Automotive, the top trio of GT
racing drivers were given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of brand new
MP4-12C sports cars at the circuit 'home' of McLaren Automotive, Dunsfold Park.
The challenging 'figure-of-eight' circuit is also known worldwide for being the
BBC Top Gear test track.
The 12C GT3 shares the same V8 twin turbo engine and carbon 'MonoCell' chassis
as its road car sibling, and its aerodynamic package was developed by McLaren GT
in partnership with specialist engineers and designers at McLaren Automotive.
Rob Bell said: "Driving the 12C on track was a special opportunity and one that
helped us learn a lot about the way McLaren develops its cars. I had a huge grin
on my face because unlike any other sports car I have driven, it lacks nothing
on track. It is easy to drive very fast and very safely. I want to find the
quickest way around a circuit in any car I drive, and the value of technology
like Brake Steer and the 12C's Airbrake is absolutely clear to me. I actually
think I might have been quicker than 'The Stig' on the day..."