Ahead of the 2016 season, McLaren GT has added to its off-track team with the appointment of Bas Leinders to the role of Sporting Manager. Confirmation of a number of new McLaren GT customer teams for the 2016 season has further strengthened the GT3 grids around the world. Leinders brings valuable experience to the teams on the pitwall and he will work with customer teams to further optimise the potential of the 650S GT3.
Leinders, 40, has enjoyed a successful GT and single-seat racing career, which included winning the German Formula 3 in 1998 before joining the McLaren junior team alongside former Formula 1™ driver Nick Heidfeld, and a role as Formula 1™ test and reserve driver. The move to GT racing saw Leinders claim back-to-back FIA GT G2 championship wins between 2006 and 2008 among further accolades. The Belgian has also enjoyed success from the pitwall with success in the arguably the most competitive GT championship, the Blancpain Endurance Series, which included victory at the 24 Hours of Spa in 2015.
Bas Leinders, Sporting Manager, McLaren GT
‘It is great to be joining McLaren GT at the start of what is looking like a very exciting and strong year. The 650S GT3 is a proven race winner at the highest level, and was extremely successful in 2015 and has continued that success in to this year as well, and I am excited by the opportunities and challenges the season ahead will hold. I am extremely proud to be re-joining the McLaren family after so many years having raced briefly with the team back in the late 1990s, and cannot wait to be back on track.’
Andrew Kirkaldy, Managing Director, McLaren GT
‘Bas joins McLaren GT with a wealth of experience – both on track and from more strategic roles within the team with a very notable victory at last year’s 24 Hours of Spa. He has a clear desire to win and will be a key addition to the already strong team at McLaren GT for the 2016 season. The 650S GT3 has already won its first silverware of the New Year, and we are looking to build on the successes, with working closely with the team in Woking but also supporting our customer teams around the world.
Further information on McLaren GT and the range of track-focused models can be found at: cars.mclaren.com/GT.