McLaren is set to make waves at the iconic Bathurst 12 Hour, with a new, exciting lineup poised to take on the challenge! But is this just a one-off, or the dawn of a new era for McLaren in Australian GT racing?
Get ready for a thrilling debut as Jayden Gray, fresh off his Super2 Series championship win and stepping up to Supercars with Dick Johnson Racing this year, is slated to spearhead McLaren's charge in a 720S GT3 at the legendary Mount Panorama. This marks Gray's very first appearance in the gruff Bathurst 12 Hour, a race that demands endurance, skill, and a touch of daring. He's no stranger to the mountain, though, having previously gained valuable GT experience in a Ford Mustang GT4 with Miedecke Motorsport.
Gray won't be alone; he'll be joined by a talented trio of Porsche Carrera Cup Australia regulars: Bayley Hall and Marcos Flack, along with a fourth driver yet to be announced. Together, this quartet will compete in the Silver class, with the full backing of McLaren Customer Racing. This collaboration is a significant move, and it arrives at a particularly opportune moment.
But here's where it gets interesting... Volante Rosso technical director, Chris Papadopoulos, highlighted that this partnership with McLaren Customer Racing couldn't come at a better time, especially following the stellar success of Oscar Piastri with the McLaren Formula 1 team. Papadopoulos expressed his team's delight in forging this new relationship, stating, "We are really pleased to confirm that Volante Rosso will begin a new partnership with McLaren Customer Racing and enter a 720S Evo in Australian GT3 competition."
He elaborated on the timing, noting the increasing presence of McLaren cars on Australian roads and the Formula 1 team's championship-winning form. The connection to Australian F1 star Oscar Piastri, he believes, has elevated the brand's appeal to an all-time high. "It also helps that we now link Australian F1 driver Oscar Piastri with McLaren too, so the appreciation for the brand is at an all-time high," Papadopoulos explained. He also emphasized the competitive nature of the McLaren GT3 EVO, a car that has a proven track record of victories and championships worldwide, assuring that they are ready to contend with the best.
Looking ahead, the team has also signaled intentions to campaign the McLaren in the GT World Challenge Australia, which kicks off in March at Phillip Island. "Starting our new partnership with McLaren at the Bathurst 12 Hour is very exciting too," Papadopoulos added. He described the Bathurst 12 Hour as a unique event, noting the significant resurgence in recent years with various new brands returning to compete.
And this is the part most people miss... Papadopoulos is particularly thrilled about the young, local talent selected for the McLaren entry at Bathurst. "We are also really pleased to have an exciting group of local young guns in our team for Bathurst in the McLaren," he said. He praised them as being "extremely fast and very level-headed – the perfect combination for a gruelling race like the 12 Hour."
Meanwhile, Volante Rosso is also fielding a formidable Aston Martin Vantage in the Pro-Am class, piloted by former Brad Jones Racing Supercars driver Bryce Fullwood. He will be supported by Damien Hamilton, Maxime Robin, and Andres Pato. Papadopoulos is confident in this lineup, stating, "Our line-up in the Aston Martin for the Pro-Am class is also very strong. We have no doubt that those four drivers in a car that we know so well now, will be a force."
So, what do you think? Is this McLaren entry a sign of a renewed commitment to Australian motorsport, or a fleeting opportunity? Will Jayden Gray's Supercars pedigree translate to success on the GT3 stage? And how will the young, local talent fare against seasoned international competitors? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
