McLaren returning to U.S. racing circuit

McLaren has announced that the 12C GT3 will be coming to North American shores for the first time as an entrant in American GT. The car that has been blasting around European racing circuits since is debut in 2012 will be racing for the K-PAX Racing team in the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge.

The successful 2013 season overseas showed the McLaren 12C GT3 gaining 23 victories (plus 39 more podiums), 27 pole positions and 3 championship titles. Now it will add another sixteen races to its 2014 season, starting with next month’s Firestone Grand Prix in St. Petersburg.

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Back in the day, of course, McLaren was dominating here. In the Can-Am series of 1967-1971, the company’s cars claimed a record 43 victories and five championships. In 1972, 1974 and 1976, a McLaren won the Indy 500 as well.

The McLaren 12C GT3 will be raced by Alex Figge, a veteran driver who has claimed five Pirelli victories in the last three seasons. Another 12C GT3 will be raced by Robert Thorn, class champion in the 2012 U.S. Touring Car Championship. Both cars will be part of the K-PAX Racing team.

Aaron Turpen
An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.