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McLaren Poised for GTE Reveal

McLaren poised to announce GTE-spec car at Geneva Motor Show…

Photo: McLaren

McLaren is poised to become the latest manufacturer to join the GTE ranks, with an announcement likely set for the Geneva Motor Show next week. (En Français)

The British manufacturer is expected to reveal details Tuesday of a new GTE car, likely based on the new McLaren Senna, which would mark the automaker’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in 20 years.

Sportscar365 understands the program would likely also include a factory-backed effort in the FIA World Endurance Championship, potentially starting as soon as the 2019/20 season. 

Details of a possible program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship remain unclear at this point, although McLaren Automotive representatives were on-site at both last year’s season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans and January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

McLaren would join Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford and Porsche with factory or works-supported GTE programs in the WEC or at Le Mans.

As first revealed by Sportscar365 last month, an announcement of a new GTE manufacturer has been imminent, with multiple U.S. and European-based sources pointing to McLaren.

The announcement would come three months after confirmation of a McLaren 720S GT3 for 2018 customer deliveries and amid continued discussions of a possible LMP1 program around the FIA and ACO’s proposed 2020/21 regulations.

McLaren has scheduled a press conference in Geneva for 10:45 a.m. CET (4:45 a.m. ET) on Tuesday to formally unveil the road-going Senna, as well as an “additional surprise.”

A total of 500 examples of the $1.03 million Senna supercar (pictured above) will be produced, all of which have already been allocated to customers.

Laurent Mercier contributed to this report

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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