At the start of February, the ADAC introduced McLaren because the seventh producer for 2024, however refused to supply any particulars in regards to the British producer’s first correct programme within the sequence.
Now it has been revealed that Dorr Group, the proprietor of McLaren’s largest supplier community in Europe, will marketing campaign two 720S GT3 Evos within the class for Clemens Schmid and Ben Dorr.
Each automobiles from Dorr will run predominantly in McLaren’s papaya orange livery, as revealed throughout a sequence of secret shows on the organisation’s showrooms in Frankfurt and Munich final weekend.
The Woking-based marque was briefly represented within the sequence initially of its GT3 period in 2021, when JP Motorsport entered a single 720S in three rounds for ex-Method 1 driver Christian Klien, however Dorr’s programme marks the primary time a McLaren staff has gained an entry for the complete season.
Challenge 1 was beforehand seen as an choice for McLaren’s foray into the DTM, however the long-time German squad introduced its chapter final month, leaving Dorr as the one staff within the working.
Nevertheless, a number of mechanics that beforehand labored on Challenge 1’s GTE Am programme with the Porsche 911 RS-19 within the World Endurance Championship shall be part of Dorr’s DTM entry. As well as, Challenge 1 staff boss Axel Funke will be a part of the administration construction of the Frankfurt-based organisation.
The recruitment spree is important for Dorr, which solely expanded to GT3 racing final 12 months after taking the Aston Martin Vantage to the Nurburgring-Nordschleife.
Clemens Schmid, Ben Dörr, Dörr Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
Photograph by: Dörr Group
The staff’s DTM programme is designed to run for at least three years, which ought to hold it within the sequence till the tip of the 2026 season.
“Due to our companions, prospects and pals, this has grow to be a extremely good bundle with which we are able to implement the season nicely,” mentioned staff proprietor Rainer Dörr.
“The sponsors have given us their loyalty for 3 years as a result of we all know that the primary 12 months shall be a studying 12 months. We need to be on the entrance, however we’re life like sufficient that we can’t be capable of try this within the first 12 months.”
As for the driving force line-up, the Frankfurt-based organisation has mixed the expertise of Schmid with the youth of household inheritor Ben Dorr.
Schmid joins the squad after two seasons with Grasser Lamborghini, whereas Ben Dorr, son of staff proprietor Rainer, has been given a seat following a pair of exams in Portugal.
“He was invited by McLaren to check in Estoril and Portimao and he was actually convincing,” Rainer Dorr informed Autosport sister title Motorsport-Complete.com. “That was in December and January. That influenced the choice.
“Positive, he is my son and he is very younger, however McLaren mentioned he had what it took. That is why we determined that we trusted him to do it.”
Clemens Schmid, Ben Dörr, Dörr Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
Photograph by: Dörr Group
Former F1 and DTM driver Timo Glock additionally held a dialogue with Dorr about making a shock comeback to the German sequence, however these talks got here to nought after he did not discover a sponsor to fund his entry.
“Clemens was truly already with us beforehand,” Dorr mentioned. “Timo got here a bit late.
“We solely had a brief dialog with Timo. We then briefly thought-about whether or not we might swap Ben for Timo and let Ben drive elsewhere for an additional 12 months.”
Following the information of Dorr’s entry with McLaren, 20 automobiles at the moment are confirmed for the 2024 DTM season, which is able to get below manner at Oschersleben on 27-28 April.