Garage 59 transformed disappointment into triumph at Spa-Francorchamps as the British squad secured a memorable LMGT3 victory in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). After suffering late heartbreak on its series debut at Imola, the team responded in emphatic fashion during the second round of the 2026 campaign.
The team had looked destined for victory in Italy before an alternator failure forced the #10 McLaren 720S Evo into retirement less than 35 minutes from the finish. Consequently, Garage 59 returned to work immediately after the opening round and focused on ensuring the same fate would not strike again in Belgium.
Although the team endured a frustrating qualifying session at Spa, it recovered impressively through strategy, consistency and disciplined driving. In the end, Garage 59 converted its pace into a breakthrough victory that also strengthened McLaren’s growing reputation in LMGT3 competition.
Difficult start forces Garage 59 onto recovery path
Garage 59 entered the race under pressure after neither McLaren advanced beyond the opening phase of qualifying. Antares Au qualified only 15th in the #10 car that had claimed pole position at Imola, while Alexander West lined up 11th in the sister #58 entry.
That setback immediately forced the team into recovery mode for the six-hour contest. Nevertheless, Au delivered a determined opening stint and steadily worked his way through the field despite struggling with power steering issues. His progress into the top ten ensured Garage 59 remained within striking distance of the leading pack before the first driver change.
Reflecting on his performance after the race, Au admitted he felt responsible for the difficult starting position and wanted to make amends once the lights went out.
“I’m the one who put the team in a hole in qualifying, so I figured I’d better find a way to dig us out of it!” joked Au while speaking to FIA WEC.
Au also explained that consistency and clean execution proved crucial in allowing the McLaren crew to move forward while others encountered problems during the race.
“We were fortunate that we had good pace relative to the others and we kept our noses relatively clean – we may not have been the outright fastest, but we managed to bang out lap after lap.”
Beyond the on-track performance, Au highlighted the close-knit atmosphere within the team and the emotional significance of finally standing on the top step after previous near-misses at Spa.
“I cannot be more thankful for the people I’m working with. This is a team sport – we win together and we lose together. I’ve raced at Spa many times and been on the podium here before, but this is probably the most special one.”
Fleming charges through the field at Spa-Francorchamps to claim 2026 FIA WEC LMGT3 win
Once Au completed his stint, Tom Fleming climbed aboard the #10 McLaren and immediately increased the pressure on the cars ahead. The young Briton once again demonstrated the pace and racecraft that earned him the Goodyear Wingfoot Award during the season opener at Imola.
Fleming overtook Racing Team Turkey by TF’s Peter Dempsey before also moving ahead of Hyperpole contender Hadrien David in the Akkodis ASP Team Lexus. As the race developed, he steadily reduced a sizeable 23-second gap to LMGT3 leader Simon Mann in the #21 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari.
By the time both cars headed into the pits near the four-hour mark, Fleming had effectively erased the deficit and placed Garage 59 firmly into contention for victory. His aggressive yet controlled stint proved one of the defining phases of the race.
After the chequered flag, Fleming described the Spa success as the ideal response to the devastating disappointment the team experienced just weeks earlier in Italy.
“It was redemption,” echoed Fleming. “The whole crew at Imola, on their debut and with a lot of pressure going into the weekend, did everything right, and with 35 minutes to go, it all went to pot.”
Fleming also stressed that the ability to recover mentally from that heartbreak revealed the mentality and resilience that exists throughout Garage 59.
“This journey hasn’t been without its challenges, but it is testament to the strength of character of this team that we bounced back from that heartbreak and also from the difficult times we had at Spa. The drivers, the mechanics and all of the staff here have been exceptional, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Kirchhöfer applies pressure at crucial moment
Marvin Kirchhöfer took over for the final phase of the race and immediately set about hunting down Alessio Rovera in the Ferrari. The German driver maintained relentless pressure while also ensuring he stayed within range as the strategic battle intensified during the closing stages.
The race eventually turned in Garage 59’s favour when officials penalised the Ferrari crew for an unsafe release during a pit-stop sequence. At that point, Kirchhöfer knew he simply needed to remain within five seconds of Rovera to secure victory once the time penalty applied.
Looking back on the decisive final stint, Kirchhöfer praised the discipline shown by everyone involved, particularly during the pit-stop exchanges that ultimately proved decisive.
“My team-mates did an outstanding job, especially to keep us away from penalties, which was a big deciding factor in getting to the front,” he reflected. “About 15 or 20 minutes into my stint, the team told me the Ferrari had received a penalty – our crew was super-strong in the pit-stops, and basically, we forced them into a mistake.”
Kirchhöfer then admitted that the victory carried added emotional importance because of the heartbreak the team endured at Imola during its FIA WEC debut.
“We had a very good car underneath us all weekend, and I’m very pleased that we could bounce back so quickly after Imola. There, it was looking like a bit of a dream coming in as a rookie team and rookie drivers, leading most of the race, so not making it to the end was very painful – probably one of the most painful ones I’ve had. This one feels great, and the team very much deserves it.”
Historic result at Spa adds to McLaren’s LMGT3 legacy in WEC
The victory at Spa represented far more than a simple race win for Garage 59 and McLaren. Statistically, the result placed the team into a rare category within FIA WEC history.
The #10 McLaren became only the fourth car ever to win a WEC race without leading a single lap. Furthermore, it became just the fourth entry to triumph after starting from 15th place or lower on the grid.
At the same time, McLaren achieved another milestone by becoming the first manufacturer to win in LMGT3 with two different teams. The result therefore underlined the competitiveness of the 720S Evo package as well as the growing strength of McLaren’s endurance racing programme.
Garage 59 also celebrated a strong collective result across both cars. The sister #58 McLaren finished fifth after Benji Goethe produced a sensational final stint that gained eight positions during the closing stages of the race.
Team Principal praises complete performance
Following the landmark result, Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy praised the determination shown throughout the organisation after the crushing disappointment of Imola. He acknowledged the enormous effort that took place behind the scenes between races to ensure the team responded immediately.
Kirkaldy also highlighted the precision and professionalism displayed throughout the Spa weekend, from the pit crew to the drivers and engineers.
“After the massive disappointment at Imola, everyone worked so hard to make sure we could bounce back quickly,” the Scot acknowledged. “The pit-stops were perfect, the drivers did a fantastic job and every member of the team was ‘on it’. We had a few issues with the car leading up to the race, so this win is great reward for all of that work.”
With confidence now building rapidly inside the team, Garage 59 leaves Spa with momentum, belief and a significant statement victory that confirms its arrival as a genuine contender in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
