McLaren Selects United for Planned LMGT3 Entries

McLaren has selected United Autosports as its team for the FIA World Endurance Championship’s new LMGT3 class next year, pending approval from the series organizers.

The British manufacturer has stated its intentions to be represented on the LMGT3 grid with a pair of McLaren 720S GT3 Evos run by LMP2 title-winning team United, which is co-owned by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.

United has raced in the WEC’s LMP2 division for the last four seasons but the second-tier prototype class is being removed to accommodate growth in Hypercar and the immediate popularity of LMGT3, which is set to expand the number of GT brands.

McLaren’s place on the LMGT3 grid will be subject to WEC approval. The championship is prioritizing manufacturers that also have Hypercar entries such as Porsche, Ferrari and BMW, however McLaren is not one of those.

Approval would pave the way for McLaren to make its first 24 Hours of Le Mans appearance in 26 years.

“Motorsport remains a fundamental part of McLaren’s future of performance strategy, and we have long viewed the WEC as a natural fit for demonstrating the performance capabilities of our cars,” said McLaren Automotive CEO Michael Leiters.

“This includes a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans that is an intrinsic part of our enduring success in motorsport and in particular, the Triple Crown which is unique to McLaren as a supercar manufacturer and racing car constructor.

“We have selected United Autosports, who we feel shares our passion for endurance GT racing as well as the McLaren brand and, like McLaren, has a history of success in motorsport.

“United Autosports has communicated to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest its intent to field two McLaren 720S GT3 EVOs in the 2024 WEC and we hope that their entry will be accepted.

“And we are looking forward to racing our rivals in the WEC from 2024.”

United announced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that it would be taking its WEC LMP2 program over to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year.

At that time, the team’s CEO Richard Dean told Sportscar365 that LMGT3 had been considered as a potential option to remain in the WEC, although finding a route into Hypercar was also on United’s agenda.

United started in GT racing with McLaren and Audi, competing in various championships including the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and the Blancpain GT Series, before expanding into prototypes with its LMP3 venture in 2016.

In 2021, the team returned to its GT racing roots for one season when it won the GT4 European Series with a McLaren 570S GT4 driven by Charlie Fagg and Bailey Voisin.

“This is a very important project for McLaren on their return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, so we are extremely proud to have been selected as the team to represent McLaren in LMGT3 at Le Mans and indeed in the WEC,” said Dean.

“United Autosports’ experience at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship will be invaluable but we know this is a seriously competitive place to be and we are ready for the challenge.”

Optimum Motorsport and Garage 59 are also known to have been interested in running McLarens in the WEC next year.