McLaren is set to have a large presence in Monochrome GT4 Australia after the Australian Motorsport retailer , McLaren Melbourne has imported a further three new Artura GT4s and a significant parts inventory.
Zagame Autosport - part of the Zagame Automotive Group, which also owns McLaren Melbourne - manages the group’s motorsport activities and its relationship with McLaren UK. Zagame Autosport in collaboration with McLaren Customer Racing in the United Kingdom will provide the marque’s competitors with an impressive support program beginning in 2025.
McLaren Melbourne were appointed the McLaren Motorsport retailer in 2018, Zagame Autosport has primarily provided support to track day participants, but has made the step up this season by providing significant support to Jason Yu and Josh Buchan’s Monochrome GT4 Australia at selected events this season.
Led by Rod Wilson, Zagame Autosport through the support of McLaren Customer Racing is set to make a large commitment to Australian motorsport fresh after the marque completed a clean-sweep of the classes in Sydney.
“The first bit of exciting news is we bit the bullet and made the commitment to bring the three more McLaren Artura GT4s into the country,” said Wilson.
“The demonstrator car is already here and was on display in Sydney and the further two arrive alongside a considerable spare parts package this week.
“In effect all three will be available to customers. Zagame Autosport was appointed the McLaren Motorsport retailer for Australia in 2018 and we haven’t been actively involved in mainstream motorsport, but instead supporting track days among other things.
“Now we are going racing, we can take that brand support to a higher level.
“As part of our agreement, we are obliged to always have a demonstrator car and we like the fact it can also potentially be a spare if required.
“The inventory includes spare engines, gearboxes and all the parts to fill our second truck, which will come to every event as a McLaren branded customer racing support program.”
Although racing has not been part of Zagame Autosport’s portfolio, its recent involvement via Yu’s program and the success of the Chaz Mostert-led Method Motorsport provides the perfect opening to begin a significant customer support program.
“This has only been made possible thanks to co-investment from McLaren UK and its desire to have the brand succeed in Australia,” Wilson explained.
“Between Jason’s program and Method Motorsport, it just made sense to ramp up that racing support. We’re going to be there, we understand the cars better than anyone, so we may as well grow the support.
“For Jason, this year was about learning the car in a part-schedule and he has already committed to the full season in 2025.
“We’re doing the McLaren customer support program for customers, sale of cars, the success of the brand and the category.”
Sunday in Sydney proved a successful day for McLaren competitors as Method Motorsport took home both Silver and Am Cups, while Yu partnered by Buchan secured the Pro-Am Cup.
In addition to this, McLaren was represented by Anthony Soole in the Property Investment Store 570s GT4 having made his debut.
“It really all came together for us on Sunday,” Wilson stated.
“We’re blown away. We’re a small, effective team of three, we keep it simple, but we know the car very well.”
Not only will there be local support for competitors from Zagame Autosport, but McLaren Customer Racing UK will provide an engineer to travel to all Monochrome GT4 Australia rounds in 2025.
“Not only will McLaren customers benefit from parts being on the ground, but we’ve got an amazing remote support program from an engineering standpoint,” Wilson affirmed.
“This includes sending at least one McLaren engineer to every event in 2025.”
Wilson believes some track day participants may potentially make the step up to join Monochrome GT4 Australia in the future.
“It’s a bit of an organic process where our customers see us do more racing, then come to an event and get a better idea of what we’re doing in motorsport,” Wilson explained.
“We’re not trying to talk all of our customers into doing it because it’s not for everyone.”
The final round of the Monochrome GT4 Australia season will be held at Mount Panorama as part of the Bathurst International on November 8-10 broadcast live on the Seven Network and internationally via GTWorld.