Sanna: McLaren Plotting “Global Platform” for Trophy Series

Photo: Dan Bathie/McLaren

McLaren Automotive is plotting a “global platform” for its single-make Trophy series according to its new motorsport boss Giorgio Sanna, who confirmed plans to expand into the Asia-Pacific market.

The British manufacturer, which launched McLaren Trophy Europe in 2023, expanded to the U.S. market last year with the debut of Trophy America, run on SRO America weekends alongside the debut of the McLaren Artura Trophy EVO race car.

Sanna, who was the mastermind behind the growth and success of Lamborghini’s motorsport programs, including its single-make Super Trofeo series, has outlined a long-term plan for McLaren Trophy.

“We are already working very hard since my first day in Woking,” he said. “We have a lot of news about the Trophy that we will announce step by step along the season for the future.

“We are targeting to create and develop a global platform for the Trophy.

“It means to have the series in America, Europe and in the next future, the series also in the Asia-Pacific.

“That’s fundamental to have a global platform. But not only that, we are working also on the schedule of the series for the next few years with important events.

“This year we already have the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Miami as a set event [with McLaren Trophy America] but we have already planned very important events for Trophy, also in Europe for the future.

“We’re partnering with SRO, which we’re happy about, but we are also exploring other opportunities, [one off], that will be very beneficial for the brand and for the customers.

“In Europe we’re already targeting to increase the grid, like in America, so we will see already for sure this year a quite big step in terms of cars on the grid.

“This will happen thanks to our long-term strategy that we’re sharing with the existing customers, teams and with new teams that are joining McLaren that will step by step will announce their entries in the Trophy in the next weeks and months.”

When asked by Sportscar365 if the planned Asia-Pacific series, like America and Europe, will run on SRO weekends, Sanna said it’s not yet decided.

“Of course, SRO is very strategic for us,” he said. “We know them perfectly but we are evaluating different scenarios.”

Sanna said it’s the medium-term target to have “at least” 30 cars on the grid in both series, a feat he believes is possible following the news that McLaren will discontinue its production of the Artura GT4 by the end of 2028.

“I think it will be possible in a couple of years,” said Sanna. “Because in the meantime we are already growing quite fast in the last few months.

“But also we need something new in terms of schedules, support and in the meantime we have to test ourselves in terms of organization, so I need the time to understand how and where we have to eventually improve ourselves in terms of services.

“But I strongly believe that the structure we have already is a top one for customer racing.”

Sanna: McLaren Automotive Has ‘Competence, Product, Long-Term Commitment’ to Customer Racing

The Italian, who was out of motorsport for nearly two years after his exit from Lamborghini in March 2024, said he’s been impressed with the capability and commitment from McLaren Automotive.

“I started in the beginning of November, officially,” he explained. “Of course there were a lot of chats between me and the company last year.

“I’m particularly proud to be in this position with McLaren. First for the heritage and history of the brand in motorsport. It’s a very nice experience for me and I’m happy to bring all my experience in the customer racing activities for McLaren Automotive.

“I found a very nice structure, a very good team of people so I’m particularly excited. [We have] all we need to grow quickly in the right direction in customer racing.

“We have the competence, we have the product, we have a long-term commitment from the company side in motorsport about customer racing.

“We have all the ingredients to do very well. I’m particularly excited and proud because, of course, I feel lucky to represent this important brand in motorsport.”

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