Simmenauer Completes Lineup in Volante Rosso McLaren

Volante Rosso Motorsport has confirmed that Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer will join its McLaren 720 GT3 Evo entry in this weekend’s Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour.

Simmenauer will team up with Australian rising stars – Supercars rookie Rylan Gray and Carrera Cup Australia standouts Bayley Hall and Marcos Flack – in the Australian squad’s new McLaren.

It will mark Simmenauer’s debut at Mount Panorama, in his first-ever visit to Australia and his maiden drive of a McLaren GT3 race car.

Simmenauer joined the McLaren GT3 Junior Driver program last month, with the Bathurst race being his first for the British brand.

The Frenchman currently competes in LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series and has tasted success in GT racing, winning the 2020 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Silver Cup.

The four driver Volante Rosso McLaren entry will be one of the youngest lineups in the 12 Hour field.

Gray and Flack (19), Hall (21) and Simmenauer (25) combine for an age of 84, and have an average age of 21.

“It’s my first time in Bathurst, and my first time in a McLaren GT3 car, so I’m very excited,” said Simmenauer.

“I’ve been watching the Bathurst races for many years, and it’s quite iconic.

“Even when I did my first first laps on the simulator, I was like “oh shit – this track is different.

“I think the Bathurst track is like a mix between the Nordschleife and Monaco. It is very fast, lots of risk and narrow in places that give it a feeling like a street circuit.

“I’m very excited to try the McLaren. It’s the only GT3 car with a carbon chassis and the engine is very good.

“McLaren is really trying to build something great in GT to fight with the big brands like Porsche and Audi, so it’s really exciting to be a part of it all.”