McLaren has announced plans to return to GT sports car racing with the MP4-12C supercar. The British company will team up with CRS racing to build a limited number of GT3 versions for the track.

The company won't take on its own drivers for the series. Instead, it announced that European-based privateers would pilot the cars.

McLaren's last foray into GT racing was with the F1 supercar. The 'Longtail' F1s last raced at Le Mans 12 years ago and 15 years ago an F1 GTR won the race outright.

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Mercedes Team Principal said: "Racing is in our blood - it was natural to develop a GT3 car alongside the 12C road car.

"We have a legendary history in global motorsport, including GT racing, and we aim to maintain that reputation with this GT3 programme, and any future sports car projects that may evolve."

The firm plans to have the cars ready for the 2012 GT3 Series and it has launched a new website for prospective racers: www.mclarengt.com.

Jack Carfrae - 17 Dec 2010