Under the new McLaren MP4-12C GT3’s development program, three vehicles were entered into the Total 24 Hours of Spa on July 30 to 31, 2011. McLaren GT did well in its debut 24-hour endurance race and boasts the successful integration of a future McLaren GT customer into the team at Spa, the impressive lap times, as well as the safety of McLaren GT Project Manager and driver Andrew Kirkaldy after a high-speed incident.
Car 60 impressed as it finished its debut endurance race at Spa-Francorchamps. It ran in partnership with future McLaren customer team VonRyan Racing. Roger Wills, Glynn Geddie, Adam Christodoulou and Phil Quaife were part of a team of drivers assembled specifically for the race.
On lap 256, the 12C GT3 with Christodoulou obtained an outstanding lap time of 2:23.214. McLaren GT executive and automotive chief test driver Chris Goodwin shared that the performance of the 12C GT3 and its drivers in car 60 was “equally pleasing.” He further stated that the feedback from the team’s drivers and engineers reveals that the 12C GT3 is meeting its driveability and reliability targets. During the early part of the event, number 59 car with Kirkaldy was hit by a competitor, forcing the vehicle to go off its trajectory and hit a wall on turn 1. Kirkaldy, after a precautionary scan at a nearby hospital, was cleared of any serious injury. The vehicle was subsequently placed in Parc Ferme at the circuit and now awaits McLaren GT team engineers’ inspection.
