McLaren Automotive has signed a deal to provide safety cars for the entirety of the 2016 British GT Championship season.
The manufacturer will provide the series with its latest model – the 570S – which is the first model in McLaren’s third tier of car, the Sport Series.
This confirms McLaren’s commitment to a series which it is already using to develop the GT4 version of the 570S with Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse running the car at every round of the British GT season – as well as running the car’s bigger brother: the 650S.
With a top speed of 204mph, the car definitely has the speed to keep up with the fastest GT racers in Britain but with an integral strong carbon fibre chassis – like every McLaren since the MP4-1 Formula One car in 1981.
Stephane Ratel, head of the Stephane Ratel Organisation Motorsport Group which manages British GT, said: “We are very pleased to confirm McLaren Automotive as the official Safety Car partner for British GT in 2016. I believe it is testament to the growing stature of the championship that such an icon of British and world motorsport recognises British GT as the ideal platform to showcase its road and GT racing products. That is reinforced by the decision by McLaren to develop its all-new 570S GT4 car exclusively in British GT this season.”
Commenting on the new partnership with the British GT Championship, Ansar Ali, Motorsport Director at McLaren Automotive, explained: “Motorsport is a key element to the make-up of McLaren – both in terms of our hugely successful history but also the extremely exciting future. This latest partnership with the British GT Championship underlines the common links between McLaren road-going and track-dedicated models.
“The 570S Coupé has received universal praise from the media and customers since it was launched, equally at home on road as it is on track and so is a natural fit as the Safety Car for the Championship. It also complements a strong McLaren presence on the grid, joining the 650S GT3, which has already proven itself as hugely competitive and successful on the world stage, and the 570S GT4, which is being put through its toughest test this season during its final development phase.”
The first round of the British GT Championship starts tomorrow, Saturday 16 April, at Brands Hatch.
