Photo by: Daniel James Smith
Jenson Button And Lewis Hamilton Star In Road And Race Versions Of New 12C At Goodwood Festival Of Speed
McLaren Automotive, McLaren GT and McLaren Racing joined forces to lead the glamorous ‘Supercar Run’ at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011. Making its dynamic world debut, the MP4-12C GT3 race car was piloted by both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, and closely followed by the 12C road car equivalent on Saturday and Sunday at this year’s event.
2009 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ Champion Jenson Button piloted the new MP4-12C GT3 race car for the first time on Saturday 02 July, celebrating the 12C GT3’s world dynamic debut. Leading the second ‘Supercar Run’ of the day, McLaren secured a unique 1-2 with McLaren Automotive Managing Director Antony Sheriff close behind in a stunning Volcano Orange 12C road car.
On Sunday 03 July, 2008 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ Champion Lewis Hamilton took his place behind the wheel of the 12C GT3 as McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin chased him up the famous Goodwood hill in the 12C road car.
Antony Sheriff said: “I was incredibly proud to represent McLaren at Goodwood this year. The new 12C GT3 was a constant focus of attention in the McLaren GT enclosure and obviously it was great to see Jenson and Lewis delighting the crowds as the car made its dynamic debut.
“The festival comes at an exciting time for McLaren Automotive. We recently opened the first of 35 global retailers; we are near to completing the McLaren Production Centre adjacent to our headquarters in Woking; we have a stunning new race car in development and very soon our customers will begin taking delivery of their own MP4-12Cs.
“Having debuted the 12C road car at last year’s festival, it was terrific to bring the GT3 along for company this year. It really feels now that our car company is taking shape.”
MP4-12C GT3 to make race debut
Featuring a recently revised aerodynamics package, the MP4-12C GT3 will make its race debut this weekend in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. The 12C GT3 will be driven by CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy and McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin.
The 12C GT3 is being developed by the recently established McLaren GT. Led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh and CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT is spending the 2011 race season developing the 12C GT3 before delivering 20 cars to privateer teams for GT3 racing in Europe in 2012.
by: McLaren
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