McLaren heads down under with newcomer Ben Barnicoat to defend Bathurst crown

The McLaren 650S GT3 will return to the Mount Panorama circuit in Australia next month for the 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour. The race will also mark the competitive debut outing of Ben Barnicoat, who joins the McLaren GT Driver Academy for 2017. 20-year old Ben Barnicoat joins the McLaren GT Driver Academy after impressing in single-seater racing over the past few seasons.

Barnicoat is supported by the prestigious Racing Steps Foundation - a private non-profit organisation focused on developing the U.K.'s greatest young talents in motorsport - and was a part of the McLaren Formula One Young Driver Programme from 2010. The Chesterfield-born driver's CV also includes a Formula Renault 2.0 North European Championship in 2014 and two race wins in his debut season in the 2016 FIA European Formula Three Championship.

Barnicoat will join reigning Bathurst champion Tekno Autosports, alongside a strong Factory Driver lineup in the pair of A PRO 650S GT3s. 2016 Bathurst champion and Pirelli World Challenge champion Alvaro Parente will share driving duties with Blancpain Endurance Cup champions Rob Bell and Come Ledogar in the #1 car, while Barnicoat is partnered in the #59 McLaren with Bathurst 1000 champion Will Davison and the highly experienced sports car racer Jonny Kane, who also makes his Bathurst debut.