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Sean Gelael and Darren Leung Transition to McLaren for 2025 WEC Season
World Endurance Championship (WEC) class victors Sean Gelael and Darren Leung have announced their move from BMW to McLaren as they prepare for a second campaign in LMGT3 together in the 2025 season.
The duo, who secured victory at the Imola WEC round last April driving a WRT BMW M4 GT3 alongside Augusto Farfus, will now compete in a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo under the banner of United Autosports. This transition marks an exciting chapter for both drivers as they aim to build on their success.
In the #95 United McLaren, Gelael and Leung will serve as silver and bronze-rated drivers, respectively, while gold-rated driver Marino Sato will also join the team, with his return confirmed following the initial 2025 WEC entry list released in November.
Gelael, a former Formula 2 competitor, leaves WRT after three seasons, having started in LMP2 before the class was removed from the WEC schedule. Reflecting on the change, the 28-year-old Indonesian expressed enthusiasm about racing with United Autosports, a team he has historically competed against. He shared his eagerness to partner with Marino Sato and to reunite with Leung.
“I think it will be a really good experience and a strong opportunity to win the championship after finishing second twice [in P2 with Jota in 2021 and WRT in 2022],” Gelael stated.
Darren Leung, at 37 years old, is preparing for his second WEC season, marking only his fifth year in racing. The British driver, who clinched the 2023 British GT Championship title, described United and McLaren’s dedication to the WEC as “truly inspiring.” He looks forward to contributing to the team’s success on iconic tracks worldwide.
“As a proud Yorkshireman, racing with a Yorkshire-based team makes this an opportunity even more special,” Leung remarked, having previously tested the McLaren at the official WEC rookie test in Bahrain.
Richard Dean, the boss of United Autosports, praised Leung, stating, “His rise in motorsport has been pretty amazing to watch over the past four seasons. We are extremely proud that he is now part of the United Autosports and McLaren Automotive team.”
Currently, United Autosports has yet to announce the teammates for Gregoire Saucy, who remains with the sister #59 car, while WRT has confirmed Farfus as the main driver for its LMGT3 lineup, alongside its factory Hypercar operation with the BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh.
In a recent development, Maxime Martin was previously slated for the #32 M4 but has since transitioned to racing one of the Iron Lynx AMG GT3s in the WEC. Martin was part of a notable team alongside motorcycle racing icon Valentino Rossi in the 2024 WEC season, although Rossi has yet to finalize his plans for the upcoming season, contemplating a more streamlined racing agenda between the WEC and GT World Challenge Europe.
The announcement of Gelael and Leung’s new partnership signals a noteworthy shift in the 2025 WEC landscape, reviving the competitive dynamics as these skilled drivers embrace new challenges ahead.
Source
www.autosport.com