Racing
Chassis 01, the first customer Can-Am and the 2021 GTO class champion
The McLaren MP4-12C Can-Am Edition is derived from the GT3 MP4-12C but equipped with more aggressive aerodynamics and increased power. These enhancements showcase the MP4's potential as a pure track car, though they made it ineligible for FIA GT competition.
Our client purchased the car new, never intending to run it as a full-season contender. It was meant to be a standout piece in his collection, brought out for select track events or invitation races. In 2013 he entered it as an invitational entry at Zandvoort in the Dutch Supercar Challenge; it completed two races, qualifying P3 overall in a highly competitive field and was on course for P2 before being hampered by other competitors.
Chassis 01 remained unused for the next eight years, not turning a wheel again until 2021. That year we recommissioned it after the Brabham BT62 we were campaigning in the British GT Cup suffered the first of several engine failures. The Can-Am returned to action at Donington Park in September 2021, finishing P3 in class and P9 overall in race one, followed by P5 overall in race two, an exceptional performance by Paul Bailey, who had not driven the car since 2013. The Can-Am completed the remainder of the GT Cup Championship in place of the Brabham, helping Paul secure the GTO class championship title.
01
The MP4-12C Can-Am Edition is a rare and exclusive track-focused supercar designed to showcase McLaren's racing heritage. Unveiled as a concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it pays tribute to McLaren's Can-Am racing success in the 1960s and 1970s. This particular car is chassis 01, the first customer-built MP4-12C Can-Am of only three ever supplied, and the only one believed to be in its original Can-Am specification.
02
At its heart is a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 tuned specifically for track use, delivering 630 horsepower, the most powerful version of the MP4-12C. Enhanced engine calibration and optimised cooling ensure consistent performance during high-demand track sessions. The lightweight carbon fibre MonoCell chassis gives a weight of approximately 1,200 kg.
A carbon fibre front splitter, dive planes and a large fixed rear wing generate up to 30% more downforce than the standard MP4-12C. Forged lightweight alloy wheels carry Pirelli racing slicks, and the braking system was developed by Akebono. Inside, two lightweight racing seats with six-point harnesses, a full race-specification roll cage and a steering wheel derived from McLaren's Formula 1 technology emphasise its track-only nature.
03
Our GT Cup season should have been campaigned in the Brabham BT62, but unreliability meant it could not do the first rounds, so we used the previous year's Ferrari 488 Challenge car to start the championship. When the Brabham did debut its performance blew away the competition and sealed an outright win, but it managed only three rounds before another failure ended its season.
With the Brabham out of action we drafted in the McLaren MP4-12C Can-Am, a very rare car owned by Paul, for the remaining races. The McLaren ran faultlessly in the last two rounds despite not turning a wheel for nine years, earned more points than the Brabham and the Ferrari in the last eight races, and secured the GTO class championship title. Strategic pit stops and great drives in an untested race car saw us finish second overall in the Saturday pit stop race and win the GTO class; that race decided the championship.
We are not sure if anyone has used three cars before to complete a championship, but we hope it is the last time.
Tell us the car, the series and the season you have in mind. Preparation, engineering and trackside support are quoted on the programme.
