McLaren Confirms Multi-Year Deal With IMSA

Photo: Jordan Lenssen / Compass Racing

McLaren Automotive has formally confirmed a multi-year agreement with IMSA to become an official automotive partner, ahead of the McLaren 720S GT3’s North American debut in next month’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Mid-Ohio.

The announcement comes as Compass Racing unveiled its striking livery for the McLaren (pictured above), which will be driven by Paul Holton and Matt Plumb in the new-for-2019 WeatherTech Sprint Cup contested over seven WeatherTech Championship events.

So far, Compass is the only confirmed North American-based McLaren customer team.

The Karl Thomson-led Compass team took delivery of its 720S GT3 last month and has been in the midst of an extensive testing program ahead of the Mid-Ohio debut.

“The popularity of GT3 racing in North America has dramatically grown over recent seasons and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is one of the most competitive GT series in the world,” said McLaren Automotive motorsport director Dan Walmsley.

“With the North American market the largest for McLaren Automotive, it is great to have customer teams racing with the 720S GT3 in such an exciting and well-supported championship.

“We are proud to partner with IMSA and having McLaren cars competing in the GTD class from 2019 is an important and significant moment for McLaren Customer Racing.”

McLaren has become the 19th automotive partner within IMSA’s portfolio and 14 in the WeatherTech Championship alone, the most since the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“We are honored and humbled that McLaren has chosen our race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as the venue for the North American debut of the 720S GT3 race car,” said IMSA President Scott Atherton.”

“It’s fantastic to see McLaren doubling down on its commitment by bringing this program onto one of our biggest stages.

“It also reaffirms that IMSA’s platforms continue to provide an unmatched ROI and an attractive target-rich environment for manufacturers and their customer racing programs.”

Photo: Jordan Lenssen / Compass Racing

Photo: Jordan Lenssen / Compass Racing

Photo: Jordan Lenssen / Compass Racing

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