Garage 59 Confirms Pro Return With Updated McLaren

Garage 59 has confirmed its return to the Pro class of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS as part of a multi-car program with the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.

As reported by Sportscar365 in December, the 2016 GTWC Europe teams’ champion will make its comeback to the top category, racing in both the Endurance and Sprint Cups.

It will be the British team’s first full season in Pro since its 2019 campaign with Aston Martin.

McLaren factory ace Marvin Kirchhoefer headlines the No. 159 driver lineup, alongside Benjamin Goethe and Nicolai Kjaergaard.

Goethe won the GTWC Europe Silver Cup combined and Endurance titles last year with former Audi squad Team WRT, while Kjaergaard drove for Garage 59 in Silver.

The pair of now Gold-rated drivers will also team up in the five-round Sprint series.

“I’m very excited about the upcoming GT World Challenge season with Garage 59,” said Goethe.

“It’s a great challenge for me to be racing in the Pro category with a new team and a new car and I can’t wait to get started.”

Garage 59 will also enter the Bronze Cup class in both GTWC Europe competitions this year.

After winning last season’s Sprint Cup Pro-Am title alongside Dean MacDonald, Miguel Ramos will be reunited with his fellow 2021 champion Henrique Chaves in Sprint.

The Portuguese pair, who also won the 2020 International GT Open title together in a McLaren, are linking up with Louis Prette in Endurance Cup.

After five consecutive seasons in GTWC Europe, Garage 59 co-owner Alexander West will focus on an Intelligent Money British GT Championship program this year.

Sky-Tempesta Switches to McLaren

In addition to two pairs of entries under its own name, Garage 59 is also running the Sky-Tempesta Racing program that previously fielded Ferraris and Mercedes-AMGs.

Sky-Tempesta regulars Chris Froggatt, Eddie Cheever and Jonathan Hui will share the No. 93 McLaren in the Bronze Cup class, competing in the Endurance races only.

The British organization moved from Ferrari to Mercedes-AMG last year and initially received support from GruppeM Racing before switching to Haupt Racing Team midway through the campaign.

Sky-Tempesta then made its McLaren debut at the Gulf 12 Hours in December, with Garage 59 supporting the entry to a seventh-place overall finish and second in Pro-Am.

“I am very excited about the partnership between Sky-Tempesta Racing and Garage 59 and to be driving the new McLaren 720S GT3 Evo,” said Froggatt.

“We can’t wait to see what we can achieve together. This is a new chapter for Sky-Tempesta Racing and we are excited to take on the challenges of the upcoming season with the support of our partners, fans, and sponsors.”