McLaren making its return to Detroit with K-PAX
Brand hasn't raced in Detroit Ayrton Senna won with it in 1988
Photo by: David Yowe
McLaren Racing is making its return to Detroit, Mich., after a 26-year absence when K-PAX Racing’s McLaren 12C GT3s hit the Belle Isle course May 31-June 1 for in the Pirelli World Challenge series.
Veteran Alex Figge and former U.S. Touring Car Champion Robert Thorne will drive the McLarens around the 13-turn, 2.35-mile circuit, with qualifying Saturday and racing throughout the weekend.
McLaren took the checkered flag last time its cars raced on Detroit’s streets in 1988 with legendary Formula One driver Ayrton Senna. McLaren had two first-place finishes and two podiums in Formula One’s seven years in Detroit.
Said driver Figge: “We’re with a proven and capable manufacturer in McLaren. They’re constantly making tweaks to get everything out of it. We’re still making plenty of gains. We’ve been among the fastest cars on the track, and we’re learning more with every race.“K-PAX is going into Belle Isle well-prepared. I feel good about our chances.”
Said Thorne: “The McLaren is a great car with a very flowing chassis. You don’t need to wring its neck to get the speed out of it. It’s a different kind of car than what I drove in USTCC and in SCCA Solo competition. It reminds me of a Formula car. “Getting the cars ready for Detroit is a lot of work, but our team is progressing nicely.”
K-PAX
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