McLaren Automotive Dominates FIA World Endurance Championship Finale in Bahrain
McLaren Automotive concluded its first season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with a spectacular front-row lockout in Bahrain, consistently showing its capacity to win races. The final event of the 2024 WEC season at the Bahrain International Circuit saw the United Autosport McLaren GT3 EVO cars dominate, with the #95 car driven by Josh Caygill clinching McLaren’s second pole position of the year with a lap time of 1:02.201 during the Hyperpole qualifying session. In the #59 car, James Cottingham was just 0.002 seconds slower, marking the first-ever manufacturer to secure the front two starting positions in the LMGT3 class.
For the initial forty minutes of the eight-hour race, the two striking black and papaya GT3 EVOs led the pack, running closely together until James took the lead in the #95 car. The race dynamics changed, with various pit stop strategies unfolding amid several Course Yellows and a Safety Car period in the latter half. This set the stage for a thrilling final hour with seven cars vying for the lead.
Gregoire Saucy, driving the #59 car with new tyres, made significant gains, advancing his position as he chased down the leaders but ultimately finished a commendable sixth. Meanwhile, his teammate Marino Sato delivered an outstanding performance, climbing five places from nearly a lap behind to secure eighth place, rounding off a strong debut season for McLaren in the championship.
The United Autosport cars proved the speed and endurance of the McLaren GT3 EVO by finishing in the top ten of both Drivers’ and Teams’ standings. Richard Dean, CEO of United Autosports, reflected on the season: “In our first full LMGT3 season in the WEC with McLaren, our progress has been substantial. We have shown our ultimate potential from our podium in Sao Paulo to our pole position and 1-2 finish in Hyperpole here in Bahrain. I am immensely grateful to our dedicated team and drivers, whose development work has been crucial both on and off the track.”
Mick McDonagh, Director of McLaren Special Operations (MSO) & Motorsport, also commented on the season's achievements: “This year, we not only demonstrated the exceptional speed of our car but also made a bit of WEC history. Thanks to everyone at United Autosports' relentless efforts, we’ve proven our competitiveness. With two pole positions and a podium finish this year, we are motivated to keep pushing towards our ultimate goal of victory.”
