McLaren is taking a bold step into the world of endurance racing with its new LMDh prototype, set to debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year. The team's plan to join the prestigious event is just the beginning, as Zak Brown has hinted at the possibility of sharing a GTP-class McLaren in the 24-hour race. This could mark the first time the team's IndyCar and Formula 1 drivers, Pato O'Ward and Christian Lundgaard, get behind the wheel of the new LMDh prototype in some capacity. Brown's enthusiasm for the idea is evident, as he sees the potential for the team to have fun with its racing. "You get into 24 Hours of Daytona," he said, "where you need extra drivers and you can run extra cars, that's something that McLaren does very well. It's a lot of fun—we have fun with our racing. Could we see at ...
McLaren is taking a bold step into the world of endurance racing with its new LMDh prototype, set to debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year. The team’s plan to join the prestigious event is just the beginning, as Zak Brown has hinted at the possibility of sharing a GTP-class McLaren in the 24-hour race. This could mark the first time the team’s IndyCar and Formula 1 drivers, Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard, get behind the wheel of the new LMDh prototype in some capacity.
Brown’s enthusiasm for the idea is evident, as he sees the potential for the team to have fun with its racing. “You get into 24 Hours of Daytona,” he said, “where you need extra drivers and you can run extra cars, that’s something that McLaren does very well. It’s a lot of fun—we have fun with our racing. Could we see at Daytona one year, our IndyCar drivers, our F1 drivers come together, that type of thing? Absolutely.”
However, there are several roadblocks to making this a reality. McLaren has not yet committed to an IMSA program with its new LMDh car, and the demanding off-season schedule for Formula 1 drivers could be a significant hurdle. Max Verstappen, a current Formula 1 driver, mentioned the challenge of balancing racing commitments with the intense schedule.
Pato O’Ward, an IndyCar driver, expressed his willingness to test the prototype and get a feel for it. “Brown has been pretty vocal that he wants me to test the prototype and get a feel of it,” O’Ward said, “and I’m pretty keen on doing that.” However, the Mexican IndyCar star has stated that he won’t be adding Le Mans to his calendar until he checks off one major box: winning the Indy 500.
As McLaren continues to expand its racing presence, the idea of a shared GTP-class McLaren in the 24 Hours of Daytona is an exciting one. With the team’s commitment to fun and competition, it’s possible that we may see this unique opportunity come to fruition in the near future.
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