McLaren taps Garage 59 as new FIA WEC LMGT3 partner
McLaren has tapped Garage 59 for a new role as its LMGT3 partner in the FIA World Endurance Championship starting in 2026, taking over from United Autosports as it shifts focus toward operating its top-class program.
The move comes ahead of a hugely important year for the Woking brand in sportscar racing, as it builds towards McLaren Racing’s planned Hypercar entry in the WEC in 2027 under the McLaren United AS banner. With development of the Dallara-based LMDh prototype now a top priority, United Autosports will concentrate its efforts there, leaving the LMGT3 side of McLaren's WEC operation to Garage 59.
“It is truly an honor to race in the WEC, so this is not a decision we have taken lightly,” said Richard Dean, United Autosports CEO. “But when you have the opportunity to race in Hypercar and form a team with McLaren Racing with the goal to compete for outright victory in the championship, including Le Mans, that is something we have worked for, fought for, and dreamed of, for years, so we are doing everything in our power to make it a success.
“I would like to thank WEC for their support, and wish Garage 59 and McLaren Automotive the best of luck next season in LMGT3. We will be back on the grid in 2027, and we can’t wait.”
Garage 59, named in tribute to the number that the brand’s Le Mans–winning F1 GTR won with in 1995, aims to build on United Autosports' race-winning success this year in the WEC.
The British squad brings a wealth of relevant experience to the championship after racking up a multiple titles in Europe in recent years competing in SRO GT3 competition. In the ACO sphere, it also has experience to draw from, racing in the Asian Le Mans Series' GT ranks.
Garage 59 team principal Andrew Kirkaldy feels the team is ready for the global spotlight.
“Running two McLaren GT3 EVOs in the WEC isn’t just a step forward – it’s a statement,” Kirkaldy said. “Competition will be intense, but we have the people, the infrastructure, and the resolve to be competitive from day one.”
The squad is set to move into brand new, larger, state-of-the-art premises in Northampton, with driver line-ups for both WEC and GT World Challenge Europe to be revealed in the coming months.
“With success achieved by our Formula 1 team, the new Hypercar project gathering momentum and the race-winning performance of our GT cars, it's a very exciting time for McLaren," said Nick Collins, CEO, McLaren Automotive. "We thank United Autosports for their valuable contribution to this success, including our maiden WEC race victory earlier this year, and look forward to their future achievements in Hypercar.
"Motorsport is intrinsic to the DNA of McLaren Automotive, and it's exciting to continue our journey in the LMGT3 class with new racing partner Garage 59. We hope to continue our strong progress and race winning performance with our new racing partners in 2026.”
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