McLaren Set to Continue With 720S GT3 For Next Two Years

Photo: Brandon Badraoui/IMSA

McLaren is set to continue with its 720S GT3 Evo in customer racing competition for at least the next two seasons according to McLaren Automotive motorsport boss Giorgio Sanna, who suggested not to expect an all-new car until 2028 at the earliest.

The current-generation car, which debuted at the Gulf 12 Hours in 2018, received an Evo update in 2023, and has seen continual gains since, particularly in reliability.

However, Sanna, who joined the company last November, revealed an all-new car is not in the immediate pipeline.

“We are already working on the future,” Sanna told selected reporters during last month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. “For me it’s good because I’m arriving now in a moment where we can write down our future properly.

“It’s early to talk about the future of GT3 but there will for sure be news coming along the season about the timeline and everything.”

Sanna confirmed that the current 720S GT3 Evo will continue in GT3 competition for the next two years when asked by Sportscar365.

“For 2026 and 2027 we will continue to race with the existing [GT3] car,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we won’t continue to improve the car where it’s possible in terms of fine-tuning.

“It’s not our intention [for a second Evo].

“Now we have to keep focused on the existing car to make all the fine tunings possible to capitalize as much as we can on the performance and reliability of the car, trying to support as much we can the existing teams we have.

“In terms of new teams for the GT3, now is not the priority. The priority is more on the Trophy side. Then step by step we will also think about the GT3 because in the meantime, it’s already in place, it’s our plan to reinforce our organization.

“I expect a few steps more in GT3 also in two years’ time.”

Sanna said a continued presence in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMGT3 class, which switches teams from United Autosports to Garage 59 this year, is an extremely important element, especially amid the debut of McLaren’s Hypercar program in 2027.

“WEC is fundamental for us and of course it’s very important as Le Mans is an iconic race for the brand,” he said.

“As you know, we already won in GT many years ago [at Le Mans]. We will continue to commit in WEC and all the ACO series because the Le Mans concept and idea is a priority for the company and brand.”

Sanna explained there will be incremental support to GT3, as well as McLaren Trophy customers in Europe next year with the creation of a dedicated parts warehouse in continental Europe.

Previously, all of McLaren’s parts support was in the UK.

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