McLaren Sportscars

[S griffin]

Jenson was probably lucky to get the McLaren at all. McLaren don't seem to have as many racing sportscars as others. I do think McLaren are only using the Sportscars as an aside and are focusing more on F1 and do the minimum on their GT project. But hey at least it's something. They haven't done too badly out of it, but maybe not to the extent of others. Audi and Merc seem to have more put into their projects

I don't think McLaren really put that much effort in. Just supply the cars and any necessary technical help. But that's just a guess

[canaglia]

guess we could say:

audi sport supplies teams fresh chassis and work drivers/engineers
mclaren supplies teams "regenerated" cars

[S griffin]

I think that’s quite accurate. Audi are a proper GT/Sportscar manufacturer. McLaren do put some effort in, but no more than the minimum

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think that’s quite accurate. Audi are a proper GT/Sportscar manufacturer. McLaren do put some effort in, but no more than the minimum

my previous post was a little parody
btw need also to mention that mclaren as holding made of more sub-companies is a small manufacturer very depending by bahrain royal family investments/financing. If we speak about resources they will never be able to compete with brands like audi, lamborghini, porsche and mercedes backed by megacorporations that put a lot of effort in their gt3 programs.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by canaglia

my previous post was a little parody
btw need also to mention that mclaren as holding made of more sub-companies is a small manufacturer very depending by bahrain royal family investments/financing. If we speak about resources they will never be able to compete with brands like audi, lamborghini, porsche and mercedes backed by megacorporations that put a lot of effort in their gt3 programs.

Thats part of why Ive always been a Mclaren fan, they have flashes of greatness in the sportscar world, considering they are so much smaller than the big manufacturers

[Bcarr6]

So a few Mclaren engineers confirmed the new Artura will indeed be the replacement for the 570s In the GT4 class. My guess is maybe a 2022 limited run with full customer sales for 2023

[Bcarr6]

I was thinking a little about Mclaren and their potential to withdraw from GT3.

This applies for Bentley too, but seeing as we could well soon see GT3 at Le Mans, surely it’s silly for any manufacturer to give up now?

[Aysedasi]

The Inception 720S is having a great run in the last race of the AsLMS today by the way.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

The Inception 720S is having a great run in the last race of the AsLMS today by the way.

Shame about that infraction for overtaking the 99, could have won it

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Shame about that infraction for overtaking the 99, could have won it

Yeah, that was a real shame.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Thats part of why Ive always been a Mclaren fan, they have flashes of greatness in the sportscar world, considering they are so much smaller than the big manufacturers

I agree with that but you can't blame team owners and gentleman drivers for picking a car from a big manufacturer with extensive customer support.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I agree with that but you can't blame team owners and gentleman drivers for picking a car from a big manufacturer with extensive customer support.

Totally agree, just a shame!

[Bcarr6]

Marvin Kirchhofer named as newest factory driver for Mclaren.

Really good signing I think, im suprised Marvin hasnt scoped a factory deal sooner after some great drives in the Aston and Corvette.

DSC suggestgs more change is afoot with Mclarens factory roster that currently consists of Rob Bell, Ben Barnicoat, Joe Osborne, Ollie Wilkinson, Michael O'Brien and Euan Hankey...

Suggests a long established mclaren driver is on the move, making me think it might be Rob Bell, who has removed any mention of Mclaren from his social media accounts.

Fingers crossed they retain Ben Barnicoat, a Barnicoat/Kirchhofer duo would be super strong in GTWC with JOTA next year

[Bcarr6]

Barnicoat out, thats a rather substantial blow to Mclarens factory squad

[Mike E]

Barnicoat has ended up in GTD Pro with Lexus.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/...pro-lexus.html

[Bcarr6]

New Artura GT4 has been out testing at Monza, a very handsome looking car

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

New Artura GT4 has been out testing at Monza, a very handsome looking car

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My-iBcRRxCo

[Bcarr6]

Mclaren are certainly in a very interesting spot this year, much increased GT3 presence, and about on par GT4 presence.

The driver development programme has had to be paused for this year to allow the factory guys to focus on that big increase in GT3 entries.

Thought i'd put together a little list of programmes just to see the sheer scale of improvements, worth noting Mclarens closest competitor Aston Martin has seen a huge drop on GT3 programmes comparatively (although their GT4 entries dwarf Mclaren's by a long long shot!)


GT3 Class Entries

7tSIX Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - British GT
ABSSA Racing - 1x 720s GT3 - GTWC Asia Japan Cup
Crucial Motorsports - 1x 720s GT3 - IMSA Endurance
Crucial Motorsports - 1x 720s GT3 - IMSA partial Sprint (Long Beach + TBC)
Enduro Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - British GT
Enduro Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - GT Cup UK
Fox Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - British GT
Garage 59 - 2x 720s GT3’s - Asian Le Mans Series
Garage 59 - 2x 720s GT3’s - GTWC Endurance
Garage 59 - 2x 720s GT3’s - GTWC Sprint
Greystone GT - 1x 720s GT3 - British GT
Greystone GT - 1x 720s GT3 - GT Cup UK
JP Motorsport - 2x 720s GT3’s - GTWC Endurance
JP Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - GTWC Sprint
JOTA Sport - 1x 720s GT3 - GTWC Endurance
JOTA Sport - 1x 720s GT3 - GTWC Sprint
JMH Automotive - 1x 720s GT3 - GT Cup UK
Optimum Motorsport - 2x 720s GT3’s - Asian Le Mans Series
Optimum Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - IMSA Endurance
Optimum Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - IMSA Sprint (although absent from Long Beach so TBC)
Optimum Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - GTWC Endurance
Optimum Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - GT Open
Paddock Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - British GT
Paddock Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - GT Cup UK
Team Rocket RJN Motorsport - 1x 720s GT3 - British GT

GT4 Class Entries

ABSSA Racing - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - GTWC Asia Japan Cup
Formula Woman - 2x Mclaren 570s GT4’s - GT Cup UK
Fox Motorsport - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - GT Cup UK
Greystone GT - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - Gulf 12 Hours
Greystone GT - 2x Mclaren 570s GT4’s - GT4 Euro Series (1 Partial Season)
Greystone GT - 3x Mclaren 570s GT4’s - GT Cup UK
Mackenzie Motorsport - 2x Mclaren 570s GT4’s - Super GT New Zealand
Motus One - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - British GT
Orange Racing - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - GT Cup UK
Paddock Motorsport - 2x Mclaren 570s GT4’s - GT Cup UK
Paddock Motorsport - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - British GT
Prime Speed Sport - 2x Mclaren 570s GT4’s - Super GT New Zealand
Prive Motorsports - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - GT4 America
SMC Motorsport - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - GT4 Euro Series
Team Brit - 1x Mclaren 570s GT4 - British GT
Team Online Racing - 2x Mclaren 570s GT4’s - Super GT New Zealand

Formula & Offroad

Mclaren Racing - 2x F1
Arrow Mclaren SP - 2x Indycar
Mclaren Racing - 2x Extreme E

[Mike E]

https://sportscar365.com/industry/mc...ew-artura-gt4/

[canaglia]

It's late of june and no new rumors about a mclaren lmdh? My disappoinment is immeasurable

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by canaglia

It's late of june and no new rumors about a mclaren lmdh? My disappoinment is immeasurable

I think it was one or the other between LMDH and Formula E.

[Bcarr6]

McLaren customer racing just posted a rather shadowy picture of a car with the caption ‘Coming soon’.

Now, it is definitely an Artura, and it is definitely too big a rear wing to be the previously announced GT4 car.

The wing is GT3 esque but it doesn’t make so much sense replacing their 720s top end supercar in GT3 with their new entry level car. Bit of a marketing down grade (wouldn’t matter for racing, it’s all bop’ed out anyway)

So, I guess the logical answer is they have decided to reboot the previously almost announced but not quite GT2 program

Interesting timing after the Maserati announcement, maybe if McLaren get on board too as well as Maserati in 2024 the whole GT2 thing might start moving a bit more. It has already upticked slightly this year

[Hedley Verity]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

McLaren customer racing just posted a rather shadowy picture of a car with the caption ‘Coming soon’.

Now, it is definitely an Artura, and it is definitely too big a rear wing to be the previously announced GT4 car.

The wing is GT3 esque but it doesn’t make so much sense replacing their 720s top end supercar in GT3 with their new entry level car. Bit of a marketing down grade (wouldn’t matter for racing, it’s all bop’ed out anyway)

So, I guess the logical answer is they have decided to reboot the previously almost announced but not quite GT2 program

Interesting timing after the Maserati announcement, maybe if McLaren get on board too as well as Maserati in 2024 the whole GT2 thing might start moving a bit more. It has already upticked slightly this year

I’m stood looking at a McLaren which was in the Spa paddock earlier and is now in the ‘Drivers Hotel’ didn’t take a picture of it when I could see it better but it said something along the lines of McLaren challenge on it- made me think it’s for a single make championship

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Hedley Verity

I’m stood looking at a McLaren which was in the Spa paddock earlier and is now in the ‘Drivers Hotel’ didn’t take a picture of it when I could see it better but it said something along the lines of McLaren challenge on it- made me think it’s for a single make championship

Isn't that the 'in-house' championship for monied owners? My lad started his racing spannering career doing those....

[tux]

Something to do with this isnt it? https://cars.mclaren.com/gb-en/experiences/gt-series