In a thrilling development for motorsports enthusiasts, McLaren Automotive has officially announced United Autosports as its LMGT3 customer team for the 2024 World Endurance Championship (WEC) season. This highly-anticipated move marks McLaren’s return to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans since their last appearance in 1998.
United Autosports, an Anglo-American team co-owned by Richard Dean and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, is set to represent McLaren in the LMGT3 class with a pair of 720S GT3 EVOs. The LMGT3 category is expected to feature various manufacturers and their chosen partner teams, making it a hotly-contested competition.
Due to the limited number of full-season grid slots, which is estimated to be 36 cars across Hypercar and LMGT3, each GT3 manufacturer is limited to two cars. As a result, other teams like Garage 59, Team Project 1, and Optimum Motorsport, which were in contention to represent McLaren, have missed out on this coveted opportunity.
This nomination not only signifies a momentous occasion for McLaren but also validates United Autosports’ efforts to secure a spot in the FIA WEC for the 2024 season. The team faced uncertainty as the LMP2 class was removed from the FIA WEC’s class structure to accommodate the growth in the Hypercar and LMGT3 categories.
Until recently, it seemed that United Autosports would focus on their 2024 full-season IMSA effort in LMP2. However, the team narrowly missed out on factory WEC Hypercar programs, leaving Dean and Brown unsure about launching a GT3 program in time.
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With this partnership, United Autosports will not only expand but also participate in both IMSA and the FIA WEC with high-profile full-season efforts, adding to the excitement of the upcoming season.
Richard Dean, CEO of United Autosports, expressed his pride in being selected to represent McLaren: “This is a very important project for McLaren on their return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, so we are extremely proud to have been selected as the team to represent McLaren in LMGT3 at Le Mans and indeed in the WEC. United Autosports’ experience at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship will be invaluable, but we know this is a seriously competitive place to be, and we are ready for the challenge.”
Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive, emphasized their commitment to motorsport and the WEC as a platform to showcase their performance capabilities. He praised United Autosports for sharing their passion for endurance GT racing and McLaren’s brand values, expressing hope that their entry will be accepted.
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United Autosports has been a part of the FIA WEC since 2019, achieving remarkable success, including winning the LMP2 class title and celebrating an LMP2 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
As the countdown to the 2024 WEC season begins, fans of McLaren and United Autosports eagerly await their collaboration, which promises to be a thrilling chapter in motorsport history.
