The Big Reveal: McLaren And United Autosports Showcase 2024 Livery For FIA WEC Qatar Debut

In a significant announcement, McLaren Automotive alongside its Racing Partner, United Autosports, showcased the livery of two 720S GT3 EVO cars set to compete in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season. This marks a momentous occasion as McLaren gears up for its debut in the WEC with these state-of-the-art vehicles in the LM GT3 class.

The eight-race calendar of the 2024 season is notable for including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race in which McLaren will participate for the first time since 1998. The brand celebrates a historic connection with this endurance classic, having clinched victory on its debut 29 years ago with the legendary #59 F1 GTR.

For the first time in history, McLaren's participation in the 2024 season symbolizes an attempt to compete in all three of motor racing's Triple Crown races within the same year, a feat highlighted by previous wins at the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. The race numbers of the 720S GT3 EVO cars, #59 and #95, pay homage to the #59 car’s victory at Le Mans in 1995, featuring a livery that reflects McLaren’s iconic designs from the past and is in line with this season's Formula 1 and IndyCar themes.

The livery design, divided into three sections in a chevron formation, transitions from satin black at the front to high gloss black, culminating in the iconic McLaren Papaya at the rear. This color scheme is also present on the rear wing, aerodynamic dive planes, side mirrors, and windscreen strip of the #59 car.

McLaren-United Autosports has confirmed its driver lineup for the 2024 season ahead of the Official Prologue in Qatar on February 24-25. The #59 car will see Swiss driver Gregoire Saucy, Briton James Cottingham, and Brazilian Nicolas Costa behind the wheel. The #95 car will be piloted by Japan's Marino Sato, Chilean Nico Pino, and Briton Josh Caygill.

The championship will kick off in Qatar on March 2, covering a total of eight rounds that span across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, culminating in Bahrain in November.

"We are proud to present the 720S GT3 EVO in conjunction with our Racing Partner United Autosports ahead of our WEC debut in Qatar with an exciting driver line-up. Racing is intrinsic to the McLaren brand and the WEC is the perfect arena to demonstrate the performance capabilities of our supercar engineering programmes. We are also pleased to celebrate our victory in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans with our livery, which is a hugely important part of McLaren history," stated Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive.

Richard Dean, CEO of United Autosports, echoed this sentiment, expressing pride in unveiling McLaren's new look for its return to Le Mans and the WEC. He emphasized the design’s racing heritage, linking back to the 1995 Le Mans winner, while also integrating seamlessly with the current McLaren family. Dean highlighted the exciting addition of the 2024 McLaren line-up, complementing the Formula 1, IndyCar, and Formula E designs as they look poised for success.