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McLaren Celebrates First FIA WEC Podium Finish In Brazil With Stellar GT3 EVO Performance
McLaren celebrated its first FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) podium at Brazil’s Interlagos circuit last weekend, marking a significant milestone. The #95 car secured third place, while the #59 car finished fourth, earning the United Autosports team 27 championship points.
The McLaren GT3 EVO cars, managed by United Autosports, adapted well to the São Paulo track. Both cars performed strongly in the qualifying sessions, securing spots in the LMGT3 Hyperpole session. Bronze drivers Josh Caygill and James Cottingham achieved third and fourth fastest times, locking out row two of the starting grid.
During the six-hour race, Cottingham initially overtook Caygill but soon lost his position due to tyre wear on the abrasive Interlagos surface. Despite this, both McLaren GT3 EVOs remained competitive throughout the race. Consistent pace and strategic pit stops allowed them to stay within the top eight positions.
Nico Pino took over from Caygill for the middle two hours of the race, while Gregoire Saucy did the same in the #59 car. Both cars maintained their competitiveness, running third and fifth in class as Marino Sato and Nicolas Costa took over for the final stint. Sato secured a comfortable third place for the #95 car, while Costa moved up to fourth place under pressure from rivals.
As Caygill, Pino and Sato stood on the WEC podium, they celebrated a strong haul of points for McLaren GT3 EVO. The United Autosports team secured a total of 27 points, lifting the #59 car to 10th in standings and #95 car to 11th as they head to Circuit of the Americas for Lone Star Le Mans on September 1.
Team's Dedication and Efforts
Richard Dean, CEO of United Autosports, expressed pride in their achievement: "This is a really special moment. A podium finish for the #95 - our first with McLaren Automotive - and a solid fourth from the sister #59." He highlighted the team's dedication over eight months and praised their stellar racing and tough defence.
Mick McDonagh, Director of MSO and Motorsport at McLaren Automotive, also shared his delight: "With progress made this season working closely with United Autosports, it was only a matter of time before we stepped on to the podium." He congratulated Josh Caygill, Marino Sato and Nico Pino on their first podium finish.
About FIA World Endurance Championship
The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is an international sportscar championship offering manufacturers real-world relevance to advances in road car design. Now in its 12th season, it features a 37-car grid split between Hypercar and LMGT3 categories across eight rounds worldwide.
{INSTAGRAM_1}Upcoming Races
The WEC calendar includes notable races such as:
- March 2: Qatar 1812km at Lusail International Circuit
- April 21: 6 Hours of Imola at Imola
- May 11: 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps at Spa Francorchamps
- June 15-16: 24 Hours of Le Mans at Circuit de la Sarthe
- July 14: 6 Hours of Sao Paulo at Interlagos
- September 1: Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of The Americas
- September 15: 6 Hours of Fuji at Fuji Speedway
- November 2: 8 Hours of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit
About McLaren Automotive
McLaren Automotive produces ultra high-performance supercars. Launched in 2010, it is now part of McLaren Group. Headquartered in Woking, England, McLaren leverages its racing history to create benchmark-setting vehicles sold in over 40 markets globally.
{TABLE_1}The company introduced carbon fibre chassis technology into Formula 1 with McLaren MP4/1 in 1981. In recent years, it has launched models like McLaren P1™, Senna GTR derivative and Speedtail hybrid hyper-GT. The latest model is Artura Spider introduced in early 2024.
The group partners with leading companies like Ashurst and Bowers & Wilkins to push boundaries further. It remains committed to innovation with models like Solus GT unveiled in 2022 bringing virtual gaming concepts into reality.
This achievement marks another milestone for McLaren Automotive as they continue their journey through upcoming races with renewed vigour and determination.
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