WEC: TOP TEN FINISHES FOR MCLAREN LMGT3 DUO IN THE 6 HOURS OF SAO PAULO
McLaren GT3 EVOs at 2025 WEC 6 Hours of São Paulo
This weekend, the McLaren duo took P8 (#59) and P9 (#95) in the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo in front of 85,000 strong crowds, securing top ten finishes for the papaya team in the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
James Cottingham secured P2 for the #59 crew in Qualifying, backed up by Darren Leung in P4 in the sister #95 – sending both McLarens into Hyperpole for the fourth time this season. From there, Sebastien Baud (#59) and Sean Gelael (#95) delivered P6 and P5 respectively, locking out the third row of the grid at Autodromo de Interlagos.
Come race day, the McLarens stormed off the line with Darren Leung gaining three places on lap one, running P2 before a slow puncture slowed the charge in his second stint. Cottingham drove competitively in the sister #59, working the new Goodyear hard compound tyre - which was used for the first time by the LMGT3 class at Sao Paulo – and holding position in the top five to the first pit stop. Continuing the good work in his second stint in a mixed field of Bronze and Gold drivers, Cottingham handed over to Sebastien Baud in P9 with his drive time completed.
Baud gained more places for the #59, climbing into the top five - while Sean Gelael in the #95 McLaren, slowed by a penalty relating to tyre pressures for the earlier puncture - worked his way back into the top 10.
Gregoire Saucy (#59) and Marino Sato (#95) took on the final stretch with two hours on the clock, with thrilling battles along the way. Saucy went on the hunt for P7 after serving a questionable drive through penalty for blue flag procedures and, in his final stint, closed the gap in the last stint from 35 to 0.2 seconds, averaging 1.2 seconds faster per lap than the car in front … but sadly, the Swiss driver ran out of time. Sato crossed the line one place behind in the #95, despite a five second stop and go penalty in the final stages, securing a double haul of championship points for the WEC team.
Next stop on the WEC calendar, it’s Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas in Texas, USA. First, however, it’s back to our LMP2 championship leaders for the IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Road America, following a podium at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this weekend. Stay up to date with all the action on social @unitedautosports.
James Cottingham, Sebastien Baud and Gregoire Saucy
#59 McLaren GT3 EVO
QUALI P6 | RACE P8 | CHAMP P8
James Cottingham: “I think all weekend, it felt like we had really good pace. Qualifying P2 and then Hyperpole P6 seemed like a strong place to start. But in the race, we didn’t have the second stint pace. There was an unfortunate drive through for Gregoire which doesn’t seem to be justified … without that we could have finished maybe fifth or sixth. We really need to get some more podiums before the end of the season!”
Sebastien Baud: “A bit disappointing, I think we could have finished in the top five. Gregoire did a very good job pushing to the end, but the race was difficult for us. A lot of degradation on the tyres … it was very difficult for everybody. Now it is very important to stay focussed for CoTA.”
Gregoire Saucy: “We had quite strong pace at the end. I tried my best to close the gap and get to P7. It was really close, I was just missing one more lap to make it happen! With regards to the penalty, I got no blue flag on track, but I got one on the display in the car saying ‘Blue Flag Hypercar’ and I got overtaken by two Hypercars during half of the lap. And then I did almost one lap with the LMGT3 behind but there was no blue flag for LMGT3. The first time I got it was in the last corner, I got a blue flag on the main straight and I let him by into Turn 1. So there was something wrong on the display in the car to say ‘Blue Flag Hypercar’ instead of LMGT3.”
Darren Leung, Sean Gelael and Marino Sato
#95 McLaren GT3 EVO
QUALI P5 | RACE P9 | CHAMP P16
Darren Leung: “I thought that the drive through for getting a puncture was a bit harsh, especially considering that there were other cars in this race that had punctures or pressure problems … but even if we didn’t have that, we had some other niggles. So, we either go home with our tails between our legs or we think how we can come back stronger, and for me I vote the latter.”
Sean Gelael: “A bit unlucky, a bit unfortunate. I think we lost like 50 seconds in penalties and we still finished P9. I think P5 was possible … maybe P4 if we had executed everything as planned. But it is what it is unfortunately. Just sad because the team deserve a lot more than what we had … but super excited for CoTA.”
Marino Sato: “It was difficult in the race, managing minor issues. In terms of pure pace, I think we were very strong but how it panned out … it was disappointing.”
MANAGEMENT
Max Gregory, United Autosports Managing Director: “Disappointing day in São Paulo. We struggled with software issues relating to the new tyre on the new track surface as well as some setbacks with penalties. Something we need to understand fully and address quickly. It ended up hampering both cars and without that we believe we should have been fighting for the podium places. Lots to focus on in the break we now have between São Paulo and CoTA.”
