The McLaren 720S GT3 claimed its first race victory in Europe and in an international championship last weekend, with victory for McLaren Customer Racing team Teo Martin Motorsport in the International GT Open at Hockenheim.
The #17 entry, driven by McLaren Young Professional Fran Rueda and Andres Saravia, took the race win at the Hockenheimring in Germany during the first of two International GT Open championship races over the weekend, which also saw teammates Martin Kodric and Henrique Chaves secure fourth place.
Qualifying for the first race of the weekend’s double-header had seen Rueda and Saravia claim the Pro-class pole position at the circuit, which hosts the German Grand Prix. A strong opening stint by McLaren Young Professional Rueda and quick work during the pitstops by the Teo Martin Motorsport team ensured the #17 720S GT3 was still in the hunt for victory as it emerged from the pitlane in second place. From here, Andres Saravia closed the gap to the leader, passing for the race lead early in his stint, after which he was able to extend the margin to the chasing pack in the remaining laps. McLaren Young Professional driver Kodric and teammate Chaves finished fourth overall at the wheel of the #59 entry and took second place in the Pro class.
Kodric and Chaves then led the charge for Teo Martin Motorsport during the second race of the weekend. Chaves qualified the car fifth on the grid and drove the opening stint of the 60-minute race. He and Kodric would go on to finish in fifth place, scoring valuable championship points to place them third in the standings after four races. The team’s Pro-Am entry of Marcelo Hahn and Allam Khodair enjoyed a strong weekend, with the pair taking sixth and seventh in the weekend’s two races.
The 720S GT3 was also in action in Asia over the weekend, with McLaren Customer Racing Japan competing in the Suzuka 300km event; round three of the Super GT championship. The race saw a bumper entry within the GT300 class, with the #720 entry joining a strong 29-car grid. A tough race around the 5.8km iconic Formula 1 venue saw the driver pairing of Seiji Ara and Alex Palou battling in the mid-field throughout, eventually crossing the line in 13th place.
Source. McLaren/Photo. GT Sport
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