The McLaren 650S GT3 claimed its first championship over the weekend in Barcelona as McLaren GT customer team Teo Martin Motorsports secured the International GT Open Championship title, and also saw the first victory for the McLaren GT Young Driver Programme. A hard-fought double podium finish for factory driver Alvaro Parente and teammate Miguel Ramos secured the championship, while Young Driver Andrew Watson took overall victory in the weekend’s opening sprint race alongside Fernando Monje.
The results in Barcelona underline the success from the outset for the 650S GT3 in its debut season. Based on the road-going 650S Coupe, with a lightweight carbon fibre MonoCell chassis and award-winning 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine, it launched at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last summer, and made a strong debut at the Gulf 12 Hours in December 2014, finishing on the podium. These latest results mark the 20th victory, with an additional 23 podium finishes.
“The 650S GT3 has established itself as the car to beat during 2015 in series across the world, taking victories in Europe, Asia and North America,” asserted Parente. “The results in Barcelona, and securing the championship, reinforce that message and highlight just how competitive the car is. The 650S GT3 has more than proved itself with bulletproof reliability, and a double podium was a great way to end the season. Thank you to all of the team at Teo Martin Motorsports, my teammate Miguel [Ramos] and to the team back in Woking.”
Andrew Kirkaldy, managing director, McLaren GT added: “Congratulations to Teo Martin and the entire team at Teo Martin Motorsports on securing a win, two podiums and the overall International GT Open title in one weekend. A fantastic weekend of results for the team, and a real high point to end the season on for the first McLaren GT Young Driver Programme with Andrew [Watson] taking the overall win in the first race.
‘These latest results are the end result of a long hard season by the team at Teo Martin Motorsports and by the entire team at McLaren GT in Woking. This season is one of the most competitive I can recall in GT3 racing, with global grids boasting some of the most talented drivers, and with a range of manufacturers and models that are all capable of contesting and winning races. We have seen some fantastic battles in every series, and for the 650S GT3 to be claiming podiums and victories in all championships, and now securing a title in its debut season, really highlights just how competitive a proposition it is.”
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