McLaren will make its WEC debut in 2024 with the 720S GT3 EVO in the new LM GT3 class. The eight-race calendar includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in which the brand will be represented for the first time since 1998. McLaren has a historic link with the endurance classic, having won on its debut appearance 29 years ago with the iconic #59 F1 GTR.
The 2024 season will be the first time McLaren will contest all three of motor racing’s Triple Crown of races in the same season, having previously claimed Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500 victories.
The 720S GT3 EVO cars, which are numbered #59 and #95 in recognition of the Le Mans win for the #59 car in 1995, will run a livery with echoes to iconic McLaren liveries of the past and consistent with this season’s Formula 1 and IndyCar designs.
The 2024 McLaren-United Autosports WEC livery is divided into three sections in a chevron formation. The front of the car transitions from satin black to a high gloss black with the iconic McLaren Papaya at the rear of the car. Papaya also features on the rear wing and aerodynamic dive planes on the nose of the car, as well as being used as a differentiator on the side mirrors and windscreen strip of the #59 car.
The McLaren-United Autosports WEC driver line-up for the 2024 season has also been confirmed ahead of the Official Prologue at Qatar on February 24-25. The #59 car will be driven by Swiss Gregoire Saucy, Briton James Cottingham and Brazilian Nicolas Costa. In the #95 car will be Japan’s Marino Sato, Chilean driver Nico Pino and Briton Josh Caygill.
The 2024 WEC season begins in Qatar on March 2, the first of eight rounds that includes Imola, Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans in Europe. The championship then heads to Sao Paulo and Texas in the Americas, going onwards to Japan, with the final round in Bahrain in November.
Michael Leiters, CEO, McLaren Automotive commented:
“We are proud to present the 720S GT3 EVO in conjunction with our Racing Partner United Autosports ahead of our WEC debut in Qatar with an exciting driver line-up. Racing is intrinsic to the McLaren brand and the WEC is the perfect arena to demonstrate the performance capabilities of our supercar engineering programmes. We are also pleased to celebrate our victory in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans with our livery, which is a hugely important part of McLaren history.”
Richard Dean, CEO, United Autosports said:
“This is a proud moment, unveiling the new look of McLaren on its return to Le Mans and the WEC. The design has racing heritage at its core, harking back to the 1995 Le Mans winner, while being - unmistakeably - part of the current McLaren family. It’s an exciting addition to the 2024 McLaren line-up, complimenting the Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E designs; they look like winning cars, and we have big ambitions.”