Barnicoat, Holton, Osborne Added to McLaren Factory Roster

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

McLaren Automotive has added Ben Barnicoat, Paul Holton and Joe Osborne to its factory driver program ahead of the 2018 season.

All three drivers competed in McLaren machinery last year and join Rob Bell in the manufacturer’s works lineup. 

Their race programs are yet to be announced although factory team Garage 59 is set for its full-time return to the Blancpain GT Series with at least a two-car effort. 

Barnicoat competed in the McLaren 650S GT3 with Strakka Racing in the Blancpain GT Series and K-PAX Racing in Pirelli World Challenge last year while Osborne focused on the British GT Championship in a McLaren 570S GT4.

American driver Holton was with Compass Racing in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, scoring four podium finishes and a race win at Circuit of The Americas and has returned to the Karl Thomson-owned team this year, again in the McLaren 570S GT4.

McLaren teams will run both the GT3 and GT4-spec cars throughout the 2018 season, with the former set to be replaced by the 720S GT3 in 2019.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.