GT1 World

FIA GT1 World Champions Hexis purchase McLaren GT cars

FIA GT1 World Champions Hexis mark a decade in motorsport with purchase of McLaren GT cars featuring Formula 1 technology

New race car manufacturer, McLaren GT, will build and supply Hexis with two examples of the new MP4-12C GT3 to race in next year’s FIA World Championship. This relationship brings together one of the greatest names in motor sport; McLaren Racing – winner of 20 Formula 1 World titles (drivers and teams combined) – and the young French Hexis team; winners of the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship. The arrival of the extraordinary new British supercar at the summit of grand touring racing promises to be one of next season’s sporting highlights.

The Hexis team has just celebrated its first ten years in motor sport. Its first international title came in 2009 when it won the FIA GT3 European Championship. The following year it made its debut in the top category in grand touring racing, filling the runner-up spot in the FIA GT1 World Championship. Inspired by team manager, Philippe Dumas, it has developed an uncommon degree of team spirit, which made a big contribution to winning this year’s world title.

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Group CEO said: “I am delighted that Hexis will be running the 12C GT3 in 2012. McLaren GT has undertaken a challenging development programme in 2011 and we are confident the 12C GT3 will be the most reliable, efficient and rewarding to drive GT car on the grid next year.

“With the 2012 FIA GT World Championship adopting GT3 regulations, the opportunity presented itself to launch into this category with current World Champions Hexis. With the engineering support of McLaren GT and a car bristling with Formula 1 technology in the 12C GT3, I am sure this partnership will be successful.”

McLaren has significant experience in grand touring racing: in 1995 the McLaren F1 GTR won the Le Mans 24 Hours on its first outing in the Sarthe! The new MP4-12C GT3 represents a significant step forward from a technological point of view.

A quick look at the current Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 cars and the cars run by Hexis this year shows a striking similarity in the liveries including the red nose, the red stripes and silver as the dominant colour. While it’s pure coincidence, it’s a happy one! Philippe Dumas retraces his contacts with McLaren: “We started thinking about this project in the spring when the GT3 version of the MP4-12C was unveiled. We had a meeting in Woking, but it was obvious that the development of a GT1 for the world championship wasn’t part of McLaren GT’s plans. Even so I never lost hope. We stayed in contact on a regular basis and we met up again on several occasions. The MP4-12C GT3’s debut at Spa only helped reinforce my convictions.”

Hexis has great hopes for the future of the FIA GT World Championship as decided by the international motor sporting authority and Stéphane Ratel Organization. “We already have a set of regulations, which promises a really exciting championship,” says Dumas. “Numerous manufacturers, tuners and teams are fine-tuning their joint projects, and other major announcements are expected in the weeks to come. We’re very proud to be one of the first to race a car from McLaren GT and we look forward to this new challenge.”