Inception McLaren Commits to Petit Le Mans

Photo: Kevin Pecks/SRO

The McLaren 720S GT3 is set to make its IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup debut, with Inception Racing having committed to next month’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans in the GT Daytona class.

The Optimum Motorsport-run organization confirmed to Sportscar365 that it will field its U.S.-based McLaren for Ollie Millroy, Brendan Iribe and McLaren factory driver Ben Barnicoat in the ten-hour enduro at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

It is the same lineup that contested this year’s Asian Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The UK-based team’s commitment comes on top of a busy globe-trotting schedule that has also included participation in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, International GT Open, Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli as well as selected GTWC America races.

The postponement of Petit Le Mans from its original early October date to mid-November enabled the team to compete in the race according to team manager Bas Leinders.

“This year was like we didn’t have any races planned in November so what can we do in November?” Leinders told Sportscar365.

“It seems to be a great track and a great race. We made the decision a few months ago but now everything is into action.”

Petit Le Mans will mark the team’s IMSA debut, which Leinders is hopeful will be as seamless of a transition as possible.

“I don’t know anything about [IMSA],” he admitted. “There will be things to discover so hopefully we don’t miss out on organizational things or last-minute things.

“There’s always a challenge when there’s a new championship [to us].”

It will mark the first appearance for the McLaren in IMSA GTD competition since Compass Racing’s WeatherTech Sprint Cup effort in 2019-20.

“We finished Spa 24 so hopefully it can finish ten hours of Petit Le Mans,” Leinders added.

Leinders said the team’s 2022 plans have yet to be decided although will likely be around a more concentrated effort.

It is competing in this weekend’s Indianapolis 8 Hour in the IGTC Pro-Am Challenge class with Millroy, Iribe and Kevin Madsen.

John Dagys

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