McLaren Motorsport Confirms Expanded Factory Driver Line-Up for 2026
Image: newspress.uk
McLaren Motorsport has officially confirmed its factory GT driver roster for the 2026 season, revealing a significantly expanded and restructured programme that underlines the brand’s long-term commitment to global GT racing.
Following a highly successful 2025 campaign, the Woking-based manufacturer is positioning itself for an even stronger presence across major international championships.
Strong Momentum After a Breakthrough 2025 Season
The announcement comes after a landmark year in which McLaren achieved:
its first race win in the FIA World Endurance Championship,
a return to the top step in GT World Challenge Europe,
and GT4 titles in both Britain and Australia.
This competitive momentum forms the foundation for an ambitious 2026 programme focused on performance, customer racing support and talent development.
16 Factory Drivers Across Two Categories
For 2026, McLaren Motorsport will field 16 Factory Drivers, split across:
Full Factory Drivers, and
a newly consolidated GT3 Junior Driver category.
The expanded roster reflects McLaren’s aim to strengthen its presence in GT3, GT4 and one-make Trophy championships worldwide, while maintaining a clear development ladder for emerging talent.
Joseph Loake Promoted to Full Factory Driver
One of the key highlights is the promotion of Joseph Loake, who steps up to full Factory Driver status after an impressive GT debut season.
Loake, a former Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year, previously competed in FIA Formula 3 and has quickly adapted to GT racing, convincing McLaren to fast-track his progression within the programme.
Image: newspress.uk
Returning Core of Proven GT Performers
The experienced core of McLaren’s factory roster remains intact, with:
Marvin Kirchhöfer continuing as the lead factory driver,
joined again by Dean MacDonald, Benjamin Goethe, Arthur Rougier and Simon Gachet.
All five delivered strong performances in GT World Challenge Europe Endurance and Sprint Cup competitions, providing continuity and technical feedback crucial for car development.
Junior and Graduate Programmes Merged
McLaren has streamlined its development structure by merging the former Junior Pro and Graduate categories into a single GT3 Junior Driver programme, now comprising ten drivers.
Under the guidance of Rob Bell, former McLaren Factory Driver and now Sporting Director, the junior drivers will receive focused mentoring while competing at a high international level.
New Faces Strengthen the GT3 Junior Driver Line-Up
The 2026 junior roster includes several notable additions:
Louis Prette, GT World Challenge Endurance Cup race winner,
Tom Fleming, also competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship,
James Kell, Mikey Porter, Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer and Zac Meakin.
This mix of GT4 champions, endurance racers and prototype experience highlights the depth and diversity of McLaren’s talent pipeline.
McLaren Trophy Academy Becomes a Key Development Pillar
The McLaren Trophy Academy, introduced in 2025, will play a more prominent role in 2026. Its scope has been expanded to:
support professional drivers in the Trophy series,
and provide a structured pathway from one-make championships to full Factory Driver status.
The full Academy driver line-up will be announced later in the year.
Clear Pathway From Trophy to World Endurance Championship
With drivers progressing from McLaren Trophy championships to GT3, and now into the FIA World Endurance Championship, McLaren has established one of the most transparent and structured development ladders in modern GT racing.
According to McLaren Motorsport leadership, this integrated approach is designed to make the programme a global reference point for GT driver development.
Looking Ahead to an Ambitious 2026
With an expanded driver roster, a refined junior structure and growing success on the world stage, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal season for McLaren Motorsport.
The combination of proven factory drivers and carefully selected emerging talent reinforces McLaren’s long-term vision: sustained competitiveness at the highest level of GT racing worldwide.
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