Polesitter Kirchhoefer Optimistic of McLaren’s Reliability

Photo: JEP/SRO

Marvin Kirchhoefer has expressed optimism in his Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo’s reliability ahead of this weekend’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa after storming to Superpole for the GT World Challenge powered by AWS Endurance Cup and Intercontinental GT Challenge centerpiece.

The McLaren, which was also quickest in the full-grid qualifying session on Thursday evening, recorded a 2:15.113 lap time to outpace the competition by more than four-tenths.

It marked the British manufacturer’s first GTWC Europe Endurance Cup overall pole in more than ten years.

Despite being off to a fast start to the weekend, Kirchhoefer was quick to not lay down a precise target or expectation for the twice-around-the-clock enduro.

“We know this race is probably one of the most exciting races for everyone, for the teams, for the drivers, for the fans,” he said. “Anything can happen. We know weather can be challenging at times.

“We’re in a good position now but it doesn’t mean that you’re ultimately in a safe position.

“It’s always the dream that you want to maintain the position you have but I think there will be so many challenges for us.

“We just want to get a clean run, a clean race, and then in the last two hours, you can’t know where you are.

“Hopefully we’ll be somewhere in the top-five, a fight for the podium. If it’s a win, it’s a win; of course, you always want to win a 24-hour race but we know there’s so many things that need to play in your hands.

“I don’t want to say we’re targeting to be in the top five or P3 or win the race. It’s always a target to win a race. But these endurance races, so many things can happen and sometimes you take a P5 and you’re over the moon and sometimes you finish second and that’s not the result you wanted.

“I’m just looking forward to the challenge. I’m very grateful to be a part of this fantastic race here in Spa-Francorchamps. I’m just really looking forward to it.”

When asked about the McLaren’s reliability record in long-distance endurance races, Kirchhoefer admitted it’s been the car’s Achilles heel, although expressed optimism for a solid result.

“This race is about finishing,” he said. “If you want to win it, you need to finish it. Reliability has been challenging for us at times but I believe in everyone back at McLaren that the preparation we’ve put together into this car, prepping it for this race, was outstanding.

“We really paid attention to every little detail in the car so I hope we can fix those gremlins we had in the past.

“We’ve finished here before. We finished sixth one year. We finished third in Daytona. So we’ve finished 24-hour races in very high positions.

“But obviously this race, it’s still kind of a podium, at least, or not even further up is definitely we want to achieve.”

Kirchhoefer Has “Full Faith” in Young Co-Drivers

The 31-year-old German, McLaren’s longest-standing factory driver, has expressed his full confidence in co-drivers Benjamin Goethe, 22, and Joseph Loake, 20, who are factory and Junior Pro drivers, respectively, with McLaren Automotive, despite their youth.

“Joseph has really impressed me from the beginning of the season, I have to say,” said Kirchhoefer. “It’s quite rare you see someone joining a lineup… Benji is still young but he has some experience; he’s been in GT3 cars for a couple of years now so he knows what to do.

“But Joseph joining us, as a rookie basically, being on the same pace as Benji and myself, was very impressive to me. He’s doing a great job so far and I have full faith in him that we will manage a good race together.

“Obviously Benji, he has an incredible racecraft and is very smart and is really good when it comes down to gaining positions or defending when you’re a bit slower than the guys behind.

“We have a really strong lineup. We’ve got a good team. We’ve got a good car. Now it’s about getting through one of the toughest races in the world and hopefully we will end up somewhere on the top.”

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