The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps unfolded as a challenging event for the McLaren LMGT3 team on Saturday, drawing an audience of 98,000 fans to the iconic Ardennes track. Starting from P16 in car #59 and P14 in #95, the duo of James Cottingham and Darren Leung fought valiantly against the odds during a remarkable yet turbulent race.
Both drivers worked to make significant headway from their starting positions. After two hours of racing, Cottingham found himself in an impressive top-three position, showcasing an impressive ascent through the ranks. "James even leading at one point," noted Ian James, Director of Motorsport for McLaren Automotive. Meanwhile, Leung also battled strongly in car #95, closing in on the leaders and ensuring a strong showing for the team.
However, the race took a devastating turn during the third hour. Gelael, who took over driving duties in the #95 car, was involved in a collision with another vehicle. This unfortunate incident resulted in him slamming into the tyre wall at T7, forcing an early retirement for the team, including Leung, Marino Sato and the entire crew. Fortunately, Gelael emerged from the crash without serious injury.
The misfortunes for the McLaren team did not end there. Shortly after Gelael's crash, Cottingham’s teammate Sebastien Baud encountered trouble as well. His #59 car was also involved in a collision with another competitor which resulted in suspension damage. The crew rallied quickly, managing to get Baud back on track after 11 minutes in the garage, although by then, the damage was done, and the team ultimately finished P15, four laps behind the leaders. In stark contrast, Leung’s car #95 was classified as a DNF.
“A really tough one to take,” admitted Richard Dean, CEO of United Autosports. “I want to congratulate James and Darren on their performances, thank all the drivers for their efforts, and, of course, the team for never giving up.”
Despite the disappointing outcome, Ian James remained optimistic. “It really wasn’t our race. All the drivers did a brilliant job to climb up the order, but there was a lot of contact, and we sadly came off worst. The team did really well to get the #59 back out so quickly, but we’ll learn what we can and move forward.”
Looking ahead, McLaren’s eyes now turn to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking place on June 14-15. This race marks a significant milestone, celebrating the 30th anniversary of McLaren’s remarkable debut victory back in 1995. James is hopeful about their performance at Le Mans, emphasizing the importance of learning from their experiences at Spa.
As anticipation builds for Le Mans, McLaren fans are encouraged to follow the team’s journey on social media platforms @unitedautosports to stay updated on their latest endeavors. The resilience shown by the McLaren LMGT3 duo at Spa hints at potential for success in the upcoming endurance race, as the team prepares to tackle new challenges ahead.