Reigning Bathurst 12 Hour title holder McLaren GT has stated its intentions to DSC of having GT3 cars in the 2017 race to defend its crown as well as a debut for the its GT4 racer.

Next year’s edition of the famous Aussie endurance event will not only feature an influx of new GT3 machinery, but also a Pro/Am class for GT3s for the first time. McLaren GT managing director Andrew Kirkaldy is apprehensive about the change in class structure, but feels it would suit its customer teams who wish to enter in the race.

“Pro Am at the Bathurst 12 Hour is potentially a good thing,” stated Kirkaldy to DSC. “But to be honest I quite liked the format they had. I think it worked quite well in terms of running three Pros, like we do in Blancpain.

“I think at the end of the day, we are a customer motorsport organisation though, and we certainly wouldn’t be going there just for a Pro car, we would have a Pro Am car if we were going. I would want it.

“I just hope it doesn’t scare people away, as we intend to be there.”

Aside from having the ability to enter a Pro/Am car in the race, McLaren GT could be represented by a customer outfit running a GT4 car. The new McLaren 570S GT4 is currently running in its developmental season in the British GT Championship.

“I think that GT4 is a surprise,” added Kirkaldy. “We knew that there was going to be interest in GT4, but we didn’t think it would be quite so high.

“We’d like to take a GT4 there and run it in Class C with a customer, if we could get granted the entry.

“It will probably come down to how many entries there are available as more and more people want to do it each year.”

The 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour is due to take place from the 3rd to the 5th of February.