The 2012 McLaren GT customer team MP4-12C GT3s lined up ahead of the race. NINE stunning examples of the McLaren 12C GT3 lined up on the grid of the famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to contest the Total 24 Hours of Spa. The gruelling 24-hour race is the headline event in the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series, and one of the most demanding events on the motorsport calendar. This race was especially significant for McLaren, who witnessed their first ever victory on this same circuit with Bruce McLaren in the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix. With the 12C GT3 returning just one year since its maiden test, and where the team secured a pole position in its first outing by Chief Test Driver for McLaren Automotive, Chris Goodwin, each of the nine cars showed strong pace throughout the weekends qualifying sessions. Five of the 12C GT3's began in the top 20 at the start of the race. The harsh weather conditions saw more than half the grid forced to retire early and an extremely high attrition rate on circuit - despite the gruelling test, Von Ryan Racing brought both cars home claiming 4th place in the Pro-Am class. Chris Goodwin said "with wins recorded in FIA GT1 World by Hexis Racing and, more recently, by ART GP in the French GT Series, it is very satisfying to see that the potential of the 12C GT3 is being realised at this early stage in its life." "Doing anything non-stop for 24 hours is difficult, but putting in consistently competitive laps, around one of the most demanding circuits in such changeable conditions, is extremely tough Seeing the teams on track over the weekend, and having five qualify in the top 20, and two cars finish, one in the top 10, in the debut competitive year for the 12C GT3, is a big result" he added. The event saw the 12C GT3s wearing the distinctive liveries of six McLaren GT customer teams and included Chris Goodwin, racing in the driver line up with customer team, Von Ryan. – SG
