McLaren 720S GT3 to Make U.S. Debut at IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup
Weekend unveiling will be carried on new social media channels for McLaren Customer Racing.
The McLaren 720S GT3 will make its competitive debut on North American soil this weekend as the McLaren Customer Racing team, Compass Racing, gears up for the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, September 13-15. Additionally, two McLaren 570S GT4 race cars will contest the Michelin Pilot Challenge, run by customer teams Compass Racing and current championship leaders Motorsports In Action.
Ahead of the Ohio race, McLaren Customer Racing has launched new social media channels to provide news, race information and updates on McLaren customer teams and drivers throughout the season, allowing enthusiasts to keep up-to-date with and follow all McLaren Customer Racing activities through dedicated Instagram and Twitter pages.
Having run a McLaren 570S GT4 for the past two seasons, Compass Racing is this year fielding a 720S GT3 car, with McLaren Customer Racing Factory Driver, Paul Holton, teaming up with Matt Plumb. Compass Racing and Holton have already enjoyed 570S GT4 success this season with an emphatic victory in January at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida–the first time a McLaren has triumphed at the iconic motorsport venue.
“2019 has already seen a number of key milestones for McLaren Customer Racing, including a first-ever race win in Daytona, a win for the new McLaren 720S GT3 on its debut in Melbourne and a strong start to the year for customer teams running McLaren 570S GT4 cars across the globe. McLaren Customer Racing works tirelessly to support teams in experiencing the thrills and adrenaline of going racing in partnership with McLaren; they are at the centre of everything we do and crucially, the customers that run our cars and the drivers who push the limits week-in, week-out are also fans of the brand,” says Dan Walmsley, Motorsport Director, McLaren Automotive.
“Motorsport is in our DNA and as we open a new chapter in the already-impressive history of McLaren motorsport, one thing that remains constant is the unwavering, widespread support from all our fans. The launch of the new McLaren Customer Racing social media channels is an important step for us in heightening our engagement with the community in motorsport that has embraced the McLaren brand as well increasing our ability to spread positive news about the successes of our customer teams,” said Walmsley.
The new McLaren Customer Racing social media feeds are the dedicated home for information about the McLaren Customer Racing teams campaigning in GT3 and GT4 championships around the world; it also increases engagement with the global community of McLaren racing fans. Followers of the channels will gain exclusive access to feature interviews with drivers; event previews; image galleries; circuit guides; insight on the cars and the teams and live on-event race content.
Deliveries of the new McLaren 720S GT3 to customer teams around the world are now well underway, following an intensive test program throughout the 2018 season that saw the McLaren Customer Racing development team covering thousands of test miles in a variety of conditions at locations throughout Europe and the Middle East. The rigorous testing and preparation undertaken ahead of customers receiving the cars was captured on film and outlines some of the steps involved in McLaren Customer Racing designing, developing and delivering a truly competitive car for the GT3 grids around the world.
Photos: McLaren