McLaren Trophy America to Move to IMSA Sanctioning on a Long-Term Agreement
Both Brands to Write Exciting New Chapter Based on Rich Motorsport Heritage
Deal Confirms McLaren Trophy’s Growing Stature as a Global Racing Platform
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and McLaren have confirmed that IMSA will sanction McLaren Trophy America from the start of the 2027 season after the signing of a long-term deal. The move reflects the continued growth of McLaren’s high-performance racing platform, McLaren Trophy.
IMSA, founded in 1969 to run open-wheel racing in North America has sanctioned sports car endurance racing in the region since 1971. IMSA has since developed into the premier sports car & GT racing platform in North America, and one of the leading motorsport organizations in the world. It has run top-level endurance racing through the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship since 2014.
Conceived to encourage and nurture the desires of road car customers to race, McLaren Trophy allows McLaren enthusiast amateur racers to compete in bespoke McLaren Automotive racing cars. Free from regulation, the engineers are allowed to enhance the aerodynamics, performance and handling of the successful GT4 platform racers. The most recent iteration of this formula was revealed in 2024, with the McLaren Artura Trophy Evo race car.
Coinciding with the expansion of the McLaren Trophy one-make racing platform into the North American market, the introduction of the Artura Trophy Evo also brought in regulation changes allowing professional driver line-ups to compete – a strategic move to broaden the talent pool for McLaren Motorsport’s burgeoning factory driver program.
This summer, selected drivers from both Trophy Europe and America will be invited to the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking to take part in a driver assessment program, that could see successful candidates join the 2027 McLaren Motorsport factory driver program. This commitment clearly demonstrates the strategic important of the McLaren Trophy platform as an integral element of the McLaren Motorsport ladder, taking drivers and teams to the top of the endurance racing ladder.
GIORGIO SANNA, HEAD OF MOTORSPORT, MCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE: “The prospect of racing on the IMSA package is a very exciting one for McLaren Trophy America. IMSA, like McLaren, has a long and storied racing history. It is for that reason that we feel this is an exciting opportunity to work together, as we continue to develop and strengthen the McLaren Trophy package globally.”
JOHN DOONAN, IMSA PRESIDENT: “We are honored that McLaren has chosen to expand the partnership between our companies and selected IMSA as the sanctioning body for McLaren Trophy America beginning in 2027. We pride ourselves on delivering unparalleled value to our automotive partners and operating professional motorsports events at the highest level. By selecting IMSA to sanction McLaren Trophy America, McLaren is reinforcing the value we provide and trusting us with one of its prized possessions. We cannot wait to welcome McLaren Trophy America into the IMSA paddock beginning next year and for many years to come.”
About McLaren Automotive:
McLaren Automotive is a producer of ultra high-performance, lightweight supercars. Launched in 2010, the company is part of McLaren Group Holdings.
Headquartered at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey, England, McLaren Automotive is driven by the challenge of creating the world’s most exhilarating, engaging and benchmark setting vehicles. Leveraging over 60 years of history in authentic, racing performance, McLaren has delivered some of the most spectacular supercars ever made.
The company’s product portfolio of GTS, supercar, Motorsport and Ultimate models are retailed in over 40 markets around the world. Its cars are assembled by hand at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC), based on the same MTC campus that is also the home of McLaren Racing.
About McLaren Group Holdings:
Established in April 2025, McLaren Group Holdings Limited is the holding company for McLaren Automotive. The Group also includes the McLaren Licensing business and a non-controlling stake in McLaren Racing.
With a reputation for innovation and technological excellence, McLaren is one of the UK’s largest independent companies.
About the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA):
The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), as well as five one-make series: Ferrari Challenge North America, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, Mustang Challenge North America and Porsche Carrera Cup North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. This partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information, please visit IMSA.com, and follow IMSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.