Pfaff Switches to McLaren for 2024 GTD Pro Campaign

Photo: McLaren

Pfaff Motorsports will make the switch from Porsche to McLaren for its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro effort next year, bringing the British manufacturer into the top production-based class for the first time.

The significant move, announced on Monday, will see the Canadian team part ways with Porsche after a successful five-year run in the WeatherTech Championship that included season-long titles in the 2021 GTD and 2022 GTD Pro classes.

Pfaff, which has a long history with the McLaren brand through its retail locations in Canada, will serve as a McLaren manufacturer-nominated entrant in GTD Pro.

Lithia Motors Inc., the parent company of the Pfaff dealerships and title partner Driveway, also has a global footprint with the brand, and owns several McLaren retail points in the U.S. and the UK.

The driver lineup has yet to be finalized for the single-car McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.

“Pfaff has been proud to represent McLaren in Canada since 2012; our partnership with the brand has spanned road and track for many years,” said Chris Pfaff, Pfaff Automotive Partners President and CEO.

“Adopting the 720S GT3 Evo platform for the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship demonstrates our confidence in McLaren as a business, a racing partner, and retail partner.

“We’re excited about the future of the McLaren brand, and excited to be part of building that future with them.”

On the competition side, Pfaff and McLaren are no strangers to on-track success.

McLaren Toronto general manager Chris Green has driven a 570S GT4 in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and Pfaff Motorsports also leveraged the 570S GT4 to win the FEL Sports Car Championship Canada GT4 Class last year with Zachary Vanier.

“We are delighted to have Pfaff Motorsports onboard as one of our racing partners,” said McLaren Automotive motorsport director Ian Morgan.

“The IMSA series is one of the highest-profile GT championships in the world, and to be working with a team with whom we have a strong and established history, both on and off the race track, is fantastic news.

“We look forward to supporting the team with their GTD Pro campaign and building on the strong relationship, as well as the McLaren brand in North America.”

Pfaff team manager Steve Bortolotti added: “We want to make the latest chapter in McLaren’s iconic racing history an exciting one.

“We look forward to building an increased presence at IMSA events with them next season, and sharing the thrill of sports car racing with their passionate road car customers at the track and at their retail stores.”

Porsche is still expected to be represented in the GTD Pro class next year, with both Kellymoss with Riley and AO Racing understood to have submitted full season entry requests for the category.

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