United Autosports' McLaren's first LMGT3 race win

WECLMGT3

Sep 10

United Autosports and McLaren Automotive celebrated their first LMGT3 race win in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Darren Leung, Sean Gelael, Marino Sato and the #95 crew storming to victory in a drenched edition of the Lone Star Le Mans – initially crossing the line in P2, before being promoted to the top step of the podium.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star Le Mans. #96 McLaren 720S LMGT3 EVO

#95 team promoted to first place

The #95 crew strategically took track position while others took the opportunity to pit, with Darren Leung moving up from P3 to P1 in the first hour. Leung wrapped up his drive time in second position, handing over to Sean Gelael who delivered an epic double stint as the rain continued.

With two hours left on the clock, it was over to 2024 WEC Sao Paulo podium placer Marino Sato who started on wets but – with the track drying rapidly – changed to slicks in the final 30 minutes amidst a majority field of worn wets. Fresh rubber warmed, Sato went on the charge from P6, gaining five seconds per lap on the wet tyre cars ahead, pulling off masterful overtakes – including a double at T17/18 - and taking a hard-fought second place at the finish.

Moments later, Leung, Gelael, Sato and the #95 McLaren crew were promoted to first place – as a result of a five second time penalty served post-race by the leading #54 AF Corse Ferrari - securing the team’s first LMGT3 win in the FIA World Endurance Championship and sealing the team’s place in the WEC history books. .

Darren Leung: “Pretty crazy one. It’s been great to finally get a result for the team, it’s been a long time coming for the team not just this year, but also last. In racing, it’s a lot of swings and roundabouts. We’ve had more than our fair share of the bad luck so to finally experience a bit of good fortune on top of executing a clean race is a relief. Both for the team and for myself because I’ve had a run that I never thought I would have, the sort of luck I never thought I would get, but I’ve just had to keep plugging away and stay focussed on task and shut everything off that I can and hope it comes good, and today it did.”

Sean Gelael: “There’s a quote in the Quran, it says ‘and be patient for what falls upon you’ and I always believe that God is always on time. Even with the struggles we have had this year, everyone in this team has never once doubted that a result like this can happen. We have been continuously working hard despite everything that’s happened to us. Like I said, God is always on time – and he is today.”

Marino Sato: “Very happy with the result. As the last driver in the car, I wanted to win on track. The Ferrari had the greater pace in the beginning of the last stint, I was closing in a lot in the later stage but I was a bit unlucky with the Hypercar traffic when I had momentum so we were maybe one or two laps short for actually winning on track. Very happy to get a win finally for the team. I have been with United Autosports and McLaren Automotive for two seasons … we’ve had a lot of ups and downs and to finally showcase it and bring home the first LMGT3 win in the World Endurance Championship … it’s a great feeling. And now I think I’m carrying good momentum into my home race in Japan, so I’m very much looking forward to that.”

Team WRT #46 BMW M4 GT3 second

Ahmad Al Harthy, Valentino Rossi, and Kelvin van der Linde secured second place on the podium in the Team WRT #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

#46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO faced challenges in the heavy rain but made a remarkable comeback in the final stage as the track began to dry. Final driver van der Linde gained position after position on slicks, climbing to third in the closing minutes of the race. Following post-race time penalties, the #46 car was promoted to second place

Kelvin van der Linde (Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 2nd place): “This is a fantastic result for everyone, especially considering the issues we’ve had with pace over the past three weekends. These conditions were perfect for the car. We’re all very happy and proud; the team did an amazing job.”

Valentino Rossi (Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 2nd place): “This is incredible. I’m very happy with this podium – especially for the team. We had our struggles during the race and were even at the back at one point, but a race isn’t over until the checkered flag. Our car was unbelievably strong on slicks on the drying track at the end, and Kelvin did a fantastic job.”

Ahmad Al Harthy (Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 2nd place): “This weekend was a rollercoaster. You should never give up, and we didn’t. We fought until the very last lap. The podium is a well-deserved reward for the entire team. It’s been a while since we’ve been up there. For me personally, it’s my first podium in the USA.”

Ferrari #54 ends first but moved to third

The crew of Thomas Flohr, Francesco Castellacci, and Ferrari official driver Davide Rigon, in car #54, moved up from the seventh row with a series of passes and fast laps, crossing the line first but receiving a post-race penalty that dropped them to third.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star of Le Mans. #54 Ferrari 296 LMGT3

The two Bronze and Silver teammates of Ferrari 296 GT3 #54, Thomas Flohr and Francesco Castellacci, worked their way from the back of the field with a long series of overtakes in very challenging conditions.
In the final phase of the race, Davide Rigon produced a series of decisive passes to climb towards the top of the standings. The #54 even took the lead several times, including one final occasion just minutes from the finish after switching to slicks. A five-second penalty applied after the chequered flag – for contact with another car just minutes from the finish – dropped the #54 to the third step of the podium.

#59 Mclaren one step off the podium

James Cottingham kicked off proceedings in the #59 McLaren, starting from P6 on the grid. Cottingham spent the majority of his time under Safety Car but, when green flag racing did ensue, the Brit seized his opportunity - firing up his tyres in tricky conditions and claiming positions. Taking over at the two hour 20 minute mark, Sebastien Baud had a stellar first stint in the worst conditions of the day, making several overtakes – including the sister #95 McLaren – and establishing the #59 McLaren’s place in the top three.

Over to Gregoire Saucy for the final push – first with the challenge of worn wet tyres, and then fresh slicks. The Swiss driver initially lost places to the hunting BMW which came alive in the drying condition but with the McLaren’s tyres in the window, Saucy was flying, setting the fastest LMGT3 lap of the race on lap 114 of 115 and securing P4 at the finish with the podium just 3.7 seconds out of reach.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star Le Mans. #59 McLaren 720S LMGT3 EVO

James Cottingham: “Solid performance from the team. Both cars were in contention for a podium throughout the race. Tricky conditions and high-risk strategy meant it wasn’t our day to be on the podium but P4 is close enough! And a huge congratulations to the sister car for their very deserved win after a faultless drive and smart strategy.”

Sebastien Baud: “We finished P4. Did a really good job for the whole team because the sister car finished P1 so it’s a very nice result for all the team. It was a very tricky race, a lot of rain, too much water on track and it is very difficult to manage overtaking and Hypercar traffic. During my stint, I did a good job and had a fun battle with Sean. At the end of the race, we switched to slick tyres which was a good strategy. The BMW was also very fast in these track conditions but it was difficult to take the battle with this car. Good race, very happy for the team and now we stay focussed on Fuji. I want to get the podium for both cars! I’m very happy with my teammate James who did a very good job and was very fast in these conditions. Very big congratulations to Darren, Sean, Marino and the United Autosports and McLaren Automotive team. See you in Fuji!”

Gregoire Saucy: “First of all, congratulations to the sister car for the win. That is also a good result for us! I wanted to go to the podium too with my two teammates. We were close but at the end it’s P4. So really good results for both cars at the end. It was quite tricky conditions with really wet weather at the start and then we put the slicks on for the last stint. It was really difficult at the start with low grip but we managed to come back P4 at the end with the fastest lap of the race. We were missing two or three laps to finish in the podium. But we showed strong pace all the race, my two teammates did a mega job too and now we need to look forward to a race win or at least a podium in Fuji.”

#27 Aston Martin Vantage fifth

Ian James, Zacharie Robichon, Mattia Drudi and the #27 Heart of Racing Team ASTON MARTIN Vantage LMGT3 once again earned championship points with a fifth place finish.