McLaren 720S GT3 to enter British GT with Balfe Motorsport
After racing together last year with 650S GT3, McLaren factory driver Rob Bell and Shaun Balfe return for 2019 British GT Season in a Pro-Am lineup.
Several others manufacturers return with new-generation models for 2019 including Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Bentley, with BMW and Mercedes retaining their M6 GT3 and AMG GT3.
Balfe Motorsport was formed in 1998 by David Balfe with partnership with his son Shaun Balfe. The team finished as a runner-up in 2003 British GT Championship. Shaun Balfe now joins Rob Bell for a 2nd consecutive year, Rob's third with McLaren as he raced with Ecurie Ecosse in 2017. The duo also shares 2017 International GT Open title in Pro-Am class.
The 720S GT3 has a 4.0L twin turbo V8 Engine, producing as much as 700 horsepower without any BoP.
Meanwhile, Balfe will power 570S GT4 in the GT4 class, driven by 2016 GT4 Champion Graham Johnson and 2018 GT3 title contender Michael O'Brien.
“It’s a great feeling knowing Balfe Motorsport is continuing our relationship with McLaren during these exciting times," said Shaun Balfe.
“I’ve felt close to the 720S GT3 project from the beginning. McLaren kept me updated though its development stages during 2018 and I felt privileged to be one of the first customers to take part in Portimão last September."
“For me the car has a great track presence and it is a significant step up from the 650S GT3 with which Balfe Motorsport and I, with Rob by my side, enjoyed great success. The 720S GT3 had a strong competitive debut at the Gulf 12 Hours, which bodes well for us. I’m very excited for the 2019 and looking forward to the journey ahead, " he added.
McLaren 720S GT3 debuted in December for Gulf 12 Hours and led for a long time before retiring with a mechanical issue. But Robert Bell thinks the development has been better:
"I am really excited to be racing alongside Shaun and working with the whole team at Balfe Motorsport for another season in British GT, and I am extremely proud to be representing McLaren Automotive with the new 720S GT3," he said.
“The development programme for the car has been intense, testing throughout Europe and the Middle East in a variety of conditions, and I have been really impressed with the results we have achieved."
“I feel the team and the car are in a strong position to challenge from the first round and, after a long winter, I am feeling more confident and motivated than ever to fight for results and I’m really looking forward to working with Shaun to show what the 720S GT3 can do.”
The 720S GT3 will debut it's British GT career at Oulton Park in April.
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