McLaren Factory Drivers Côme Ledogar, Alvaro Parente and Shane van Gisbergen have been confirmed to take on the 2016 Motul Sepang 12 Hours next month in Malaysia. The all-pro line-up have claimed no fewer than five championship titles between them this season with the 650S GT3, and will join the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge champions K-PAX Racing to take on one of the most challenging GT endurance races on the calendar.
In what has been the most successful season of GT3 racing for McLaren to date, the confirmed K-PAX Racing driver line-up have been at the forefront of the long brand’s list of race wins and 10 championship titles. As a trio, are aiming to conclude the 2016 season in style.
Parente rejoins K-PAX Racing having helped secure the Californian-based outfit to triple honours in the Pirelli World Challenge with six victories over the course of his debut season. The Portuguese driver, who has been racing with McLaren since 2011, will be looking to build on his experience of the Malaysian event having claimed a class victory last year, and narrowly missed an overall podium.
New Zealand-born van Gisbergen will sign off the busy 2016 season in Sepang fighting for two further trophies with the 650S GT3. In addition to the coveted race win, van Gisbergen remains in contention for the Intercontinental GT Challenge ahead of the final race. The three-round championship, in its inaugural season, is contested across the Bathurst 12 Hours, Total 24 Hours of Spa and Motul Sepang 12 Hours. Having started the season with pole position, lap record and the race win alongside Parente at the Bathurst 12 Hour, and scored further points at the Total 24 Hours of Spa on the way to securing the Blancpain Endurance Cup, van Gisbergen lies in second place.
Ledogar has made an immediate impact in his debut season as a Factory Driver with McLaren. His competitive debut in the 650S GT3 saw him take victory in Monza alongside van Gisbergen and fellow Factory Driver Rob Bell at the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Cup. He then went on to win the prestigious 1,000kms of Paul Ricard and took victory in the International GT Open round at Monza.
Held annually since 2000, the Motul Sepang 12 Hours has become one of the leading worldwide endurance events since the Stephane Ratel Organisation (SRO) took over last year. The multi-class race is run on the world-famous Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur, and features a wide selection of GT and touring cars entered by top international teams.
On track running at Sepang is set to start on Thursday 8 December, ahead of the race on Saturday 10 December, which starts at midday (GMT +8hrs) and runs into the night. Keep up to date with the K-PAX Racing and the 650S GT3 throughout the race weekend by following @McLaren_GT on Twitter, and join the conversation using #McLarenatSepang.
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