Newly-announced Melbourne-based 59Racing will become the first McLaren Customer Racing customer team to campaign the new McLaren 720S GT3 race car, taking to the track for the opening rounds of the Australian GT championship at Melbourne’s Albert Park, March 14-17.
Competing in the support race package for the inaugural round of the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship, 59Racing will be challenging for an overall race result with both the new 720S GT3 and 570S GT4. The team’s new 720S GT3 was unveiled in front of gathered media, partners and sponsors at McLaren Melbourne, one of the specialist Official Motorsport Retailers established within the McLaren global retail network and the only one in Australia. The car, which will wear #59 throughout the season, features a livery of iconic McLaren Orange with contrasting blue details, a design inspired by the 2019 McLaren MCL34 Formula 1 car.
The team name, 59Racing, recalls the race number carried by the McLaren F1 GTR which took a famous victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995. During the launch event, it was confirmed that 59Racing will run a two-car entry into the 2019 Australian GT championship, with Australian GT race-winner Fraser Ross (28) driving the 720S GT3 on its competitive customer team debut. Ryan Simpson (31) from Sydney, will take the wheel of the 570S GT4.
The announcement in Australia coincides with the first public day of the Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland, where the very first customer McLaren 720S GT3 is being showcased as part of the McLaren Automotive presence at the show. Chassis 001 is displayed alongside a line-up of road-going McLaren cars, including its Super Series sibling, the new 720S Spider.
“It is really great to welcome another new customer team to the McLaren Customer Racing family, with the launch of 59Racing, who will be the first of our teams to take to the track in competition with the 720S GT3. Premiering as part of the Formula 1 race activity, with 59Racing running in their home race, is a fantastic platform for the team and McLaren alike.
“All the effort and work that has gone into the 720S GT3 programme to date has led to this point, and it is a very proud moment to see the car ahead of the first competitive outing, in the hands of a new owner. The McLaren Customer Racing team has covered thousands of kilometres worldwide during the development of the 720S GT3, and the programme has pushed the boundaries of what is possible, in extreme conditions and with a clear goal: to develop a car worthy of wearing the McLaren badge, and capable of challenging for victories against the best in the world.”
Dan Walmsley, Motorsport Director, McLaren Automotive.
