McLaren LMGT3 EVOs at the 6 Hours of São Paulo
The 6 Hours of Sao Paulo delivered our first LMGT3 podium in the FIA World Endurance Championship – a landmark for racing partners United Autosports and McLaren Automotive.
The #95 crew of Josh Caygill, Marino Sato and Nico Pino started third place on the grid and - after six hours of racing at the iconic Brazilian track – successfully secured their place on the world championship podium.
Former bike racer Josh Caygill qualified the #95 in third place on Saturday afternoon and, in his opening stint, worked to build a gap whilst looking after the tyres on the high degradation track surface. Josh gave the car to Nico Pino just short of the two hour mark, with Nico taking the car for a double stint and doing a solid job despite feeling ill – handing over to Marino Sato for the final two and a half stints, who took a fresh set of tyres towards the end to lock in the podium finish.
In the sister #59 McLaren LMGT3 EVO, James Cottingham, Gregoire Saucy and Nicolas Costa crossed the line P4 at Autodromo de Interlagos - coming within touching distance of the podium for the second time this season, having also secured fourth in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
Cottingham kicked off proceedings from fourth place on the grid, staying out of trouble in the hectic early stages. He handed over at 1/3 distance to former FIA Formula 3 racer Gregoire Saucy, who fought hard, initially with double stinted tyres, before being handed some fresher tyres for his second outing. Brazilian Nicolas Costa took the reins in the final stages, masterfully holding off two cars behind and securing P4 for the team at his home race.
The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship is the Lone Star Le Mans in Texas, USA (1st September 2024). But first, relive the São Paulo podium action on social @unitedautosports.
Marino Sato, Nico Pino and Josh Caygill on the podium at the 6 Hours of São Paulo
#95 MCLAREN LMGT3 EVO
QUALI P3 | RACE P3 | CHAMP P11
Josh Caygill: “I haven’t stopped smiling … it’s absolutely mega! We were fast in every session and fighting to be at the front all weekend. I was happy with my two stints in the car. I was pushing hard, we had some good racing out there. Marino and Nico spend a lot of time with me to make me faster, so thank you to those guys. It’s nice to get a result for me personally … but this is for everybody in the team. We are all pushing so hard, so it’s amazing when it pays off. At this level, it’s such a big deal. There is no easy podium. So to get this one … the first for me, the first for United Autosports and McLaren in the new WEC LMGT3 era. I’m buzzing!”
Nico Pino: “Finally on the podium! Not an easy race, I’m not feeling great … I’m a bit sick. Everyone did a mega job. We had a few issues to manage but we overcame them and brought it home. Super happy to get the first podium of the year with United Autosports and McLaren in the World Championship. Now, we will push to keep improving and close the gap to the winners.”
Marino Sato: “That’s better! Finally on the podium. We had the chance in Imola and Spa, so it’s great to have the trophy in our hands. The guys are pushing so hard … it’s great to see it paying off. We still have gains to make, to close the gap to the leaders … but we’re definitely going in the right direction! Josh [Caygill] took the start and drove a really good stint. Nico [Pino] had to deal with a small issue, which he did. In my stint, we were looking to close the gap to the cars in front and challenge for second place, but we had to manage our tyres. Overall, a really positive day.”
James Cottingham, Nicolas Costa and Gregoire Saucy at the 6 Hours of São Paulo
#59 mclaren lmgt3 evo
quali P4 | race P4 | champ P10
James Cottingham: “Really pleased for our teammates who finished on the podium and chuffed we finished P4 in what was a very challenging race. Great to have come to Interlagos … what an experience! It’s a very difficult track … a busy short lap, steeped with history. I’m very glad that I did it with a Brazilian! It was amazing to see the appreciation. I’m absolutely focussed on achieving a podium. Three rounds left to go.”
Gregoire Saucy: “It was quite a good race … I think we all did good – me, James and Nicolas. It was difficult in my stint. We had some traffic and it was difficult to overtake but at the end we managed to finish P4 … where we started! Great improvements. We need to keep working for the next one!”
Nicolas Costa: “It was a very eventful race. A lot of stuff to manage. I think we started really well and then dropped down the order a bit. We had a couple of penalties which obviously didn’t help but in the end I think we maximised the strategy that we had. We maximised the pace we had and the result that we could achieve. I had a really hard fight with two of the best drivers on the grid with considerably less rubber on my tyres which wasn’t easy! But I was keen to keep them behind at my home race with the crowd pushing me forwards. It’s a dream come true to be here representing my country, in front of my home crowd and with my parents watching. It’s a privilege. Only good things about this weekend!”
senior management
Richard Dean, United Autosports CEO: “This is a really special moment. A podium finish for the #95 - our first with McLaren Automotive - and a solid fourth from the sister #59, sealing the Sao Paulo weekend with our strongest result so far. United Autosports has celebrated great success in the WEC with the LMP2s, but this has been a new challenge. I cannot emphasise enough the time, passion and pure determination that the team has poured into the McLaren programme over the course of eight months, from all sides. And the drivers put it into action on-track, with some stellar racing out there and very tough defence. The result is truly deserved. I am extremely proud, and excited to continue on this upward trajectory through the final three rounds.”
Mick McDonagh, Director of MSO Motorsport, McLaren Automotive: “With the progress we’ve made this season working closely with our racing partners at United Autosports, it was only a matter of time before we stepped on to the podium, so I’m delighted that the number 95 car achieved that objective in Brazil. The fact that we also finished fourth demonstrates the genuine pace in the car and the improvements we’ve managed to make in a relatively short period of time.
Massive congratulations to Josh, Marino and Nico on their first podium, as well as everyone at United Autosports on a job very well done. It’s a team effort and we all share in this success.”