New McLaren GT3 Junior driver Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer will make his debut for the brand this weekend at the Bathurst 12 Hour.
The Frenchman has been announced as the fourth driver aboard Volante Rosso Motorsport’s Silver Cup-entered #15 McLaren GT3 Evo, which he will share with the previously confirmed Marcos Flack, Rylan Gray and Bayley Hall. With an average age of just 21, the quartet is the youngest in the field.
Simmenauer, who was announced as a McLaren junior last month, will be making his first start at the Bathurst 12 Hour. Although new to the McLaren, the 25-year-old has plenty of GT3 experience to fall back on, headlined by two seasons spent with Team WRT in GT World Challenge Europe.
“It’s my first time in Bathurst, and my first time in a McLaren GT3 car, so I’m very excited,” said Simmenauer.
“I’ve been watching the Bathurst races for many years, and it’s quite iconic. Even when I did my first laps on the simulator, I was like ‘oh s**t – this track is different’. I think the Bathurst track is like a mix between the Nordschleife and Monaco. It is very fast, lots of risk and narrow in places that give it a feeling like a street circuit.
“I’m very excited to try the McLaren. It’s the only GT3 car with a carbon chassis and the engine is very good. McLaren is really trying to build something great in GT to fight with the big brands like Porsche and Audi, so it’s really exciting to be a part of it all.”
The 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour will be held on 13th to 15th February 2026.
Image courtesy of Volante Rosso Motorsport
