- McLaren GT3 EVO demonstrates race-winning pace at Fuji FIA WEC round
- Both McLaren GT3 EVO cars qualify in the top five, with #59 starting third, and #95 fifth
- Car 59 leads the class for most of the race before safety car intervention thwarts race strategy
McLaren Automotive and Racing Partner United Autosports once again exhibited race-winning speed during the FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Fuji but the McLaren GT3 EVO cars had to settle for eighth and seventeenth places, after a late safety car intervention prevented a podium return.
The weekend started well with front-running pace in practice and Marino Sato led the way in the opening session. Both Josh Caygill in #95 and James Cottingham in #59 made it through to the ten-minute Hyperpole session to secure third and fifth respectively on the grid.
As the field headed down the long start straight into the first corner, Caygill ducked to the inside, with Cottingham, also finding space, to emerge in second and third places, where they would run for the opening laps. This was as high as the #95 car would run, with an issue dropping the car off the lead lap. A valiant effort from team-mates Nico Pino and Sato would see the car finish in seventeenth place.
By contrast the #59 car was having a superb run, with Nicolas Costa taking the lead of the LMGT3 field on lap 56 with an assured drive. The McLaren GT3 EVO consolidated its advantage at the front, only yielding during the pit stop sequences. A secure lead was unfortunately wiped out by a late Safety Car period, which made for an incredibly close final 45-minutes of racing, with the top three separated by just a few seconds. Tyre degradation left Gregoire Saucy unable to match his rivals on fresher rubber and the #59 car would finish a frustrating eighth at the chequered flag.
The team and drivers now have a six-week break until the final round of the championship in Bahrain, on October 31 to November 2, and will be looking to finish the season on a high.
“After a run of really strong results, this has brought us down to earth a bit. The #95 started strong but due to a number of reasons was out of contention within the first hour. It feels particularly unfair on the crew because from their perspective it was faultless. It was equally tough on the #59 which led most of the race, but a Safety Car late on negated the strategic call and the gap we had built up. It’s disappointing but we have to focus on the season finale in Bahrain.”
Richard Dean, CEO, United Autosports
“Once again it has been a frustrating weekend for both cars, but we must remember this is our first year of the programme and we are battling with the best GT teams in the world. We will take the learnings from each race and keep pushing forwards.
“It’s pleasing to see the pure pace of the car and that we are fighting for podiums at this level. We are working with fine margins. After six hours of racing, it all came down to seconds between first and tenth, but I really do think it’s a case of when, not if, that we will be victorious.”
Mick McDonagh, Director of MSO Motorsport, McLaren Automotive
