Gelael and Leung move to McLaren to contest WEC with United Autosports in 2025

World Endurance Championship class race winners Sean Gelael and Darren Leung are shifting from BMW to McLaren for a second LMGT3 marketing campaign collectively in 2025. 

The winners of the Imola WEC spherical final April aboard a WRT BMW M4 GT3 shared with Augusto Farfus, will race a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo for United Autosports within the coming season. 

Gelael and Leung will respectively be the silver and bronze-rated drivers within the line-up of the #95 United McLaren alongside gold Marino Sato, whose return to the automobile was confirmed on the discharge of the primary draft of the 2025 WEC entry checklist in November.

Ex-Method 2 driver Gelael is leaving WRT after three seasons, the primary two of which he raced in LMP2 previous to the removing of the secondary prototype class from the complete WEC schedule. 

“I’m super-excited to be in a automobile with United Autosports after being long-terms rivals [in P2 and then LMGT3],” mentioned the 28-year-old Indonesian.

“I’m wanting ahead to racing with Marino for the primary time and, after all, to work with Darren once more after some nice highlights collectively in 2024.

“I feel it will likely be a very good expertise and a powerful alternative to win the championship after ending second twice [in P2 with Jota in 2021 and WRT in 2022].”

Leung, 37 from Britain, can be making his second WEC marketing campaign in what is going to solely be his fifth season of racing.

The 2023 British GT Championship title winner described the dedication of United and McLaren to the WEC as “really inspiring” and mentioned that he’s “desperate to contribute to the staff’s efforts on a few of the most iconic circuits on the planet”. 

“As a proud Yorkshireman, racing with a Yorkshire-based staff makes this a chance much more particular,” added Leung, who tried out the McLaren on the official WEC rookie check in Bahrain in November.

United boss Richard Dean referred to as Leung “a driver you need in your aspect”. 

“His rise in motorsport has been fairly superb to look at over the previous 4 seasons, so we’re extraordinarily proud that he’s now a part of the United Autosports and McLaren Automotive staff,” he mentioned. “Plus he’s a fellow Yorkshireman, which is at all times a great factor!”

United has but to unveil team-mates for Gregoire Saucy, whose continuation with the staff was confirmed on the publication of the WEC entry checklist, within the sister #59 automobile.

WRT thus far solely has one driver confirmed for its LMGT3 squad, which it runs alongside its manufacturing unit Hypercar class operation with the BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh. 

Farfus will stay as the complete skilled within the #31 automobile, it was confirmed on the discharge of the collection entry. 

#59 United Autosports McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo: Alex Sedgwick, Grégoire Saucy

Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Photos

Maxime Martin was named within the #32 M4 in November, but has subsequently moved to Mercedes and can race one of many Iron Lynx AMG GT3s within the WEC this yr. 

The Belgian was teamed in 2024 WEC with motorbike racing legend Valentino Rossi, whose programme for the approaching season has but to be confirmed. 

The Italian is seeking to downscale his racing actions and compete in just one championship, both the WEC or the GT World Problem Europe wherein he contested a full Endurance Cup schedule and two Dash Cup rounds in 2024. 

Rossi said at last season’s WEC finale in Bahrain in November that he was leaning towards staying in the WEC on the behest of BMW.