Marvin Kirchhöfer has confirmed his departure from McLaren Customer Racing after five seasons as a factory driver, bringing an end to a successful partnership that included victories in GT World Challenge Europe, a historic pole position at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa and a breakthrough FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) victory.
The German announced his departure following the 2026 WEC season finale at Monza, where he completed his final appearance as a McLaren factory driver with Garage 59. Kirchhöfer had joined the British manufacturer’s factory driver programme ahead of the 2022 season, subsequently establishing himself as one of its leading GT3 competitors across international championships.
His final season with McLaren included his WEC debut, a maiden LMGT3 victory at Spa-Francorchamps and further appearances in GT World Challenge Europe. Although the 32-year-old has confirmed that his time with the manufacturer has concluded, he has not yet announced his racing plans for 2027.
Kirchhöfer announces departure after five seasons with McLaren
Kirchhöfer confirmed the conclusion of his McLaren career through a social media statement, reflecting on the achievements, opportunities and relationships developed throughout his time with the manufacturer. Having joined the factory driver programme following an established career in junior single-seaters and GT racing, the German became a regular presence in McLaren-powered entries across several international competitions.
His association with McLaren included programmes with Garage 59, JOTA, Optimum Motorsport and other established endurance racing organisations. During that period, Kirchhöfer contributed to the manufacturer’s efforts in both sprint and endurance competition, regularly challenging for victories and podium positions.
Reflecting on his departure, Kirchhöfer expressed appreciation for the support he received when joining the manufacturer and emphasised the importance of the relationships he had developed throughout the partnership.
“A chapter that comes to an end after five incredible seasons.
“I can’t thank McLaren Customer Racing enough for their trust and belief in me back in 2021, when they signed me as a factory driver.
“Besides achieving some amazing results, I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many incredible people.
“Many of them have become good friends, which is one of the biggest privileges and definitely something I truly appreciate about this sport.
“Thanks to all my teammates that made this journey a fun one.
“Now, a new chapter begins, and I can’t wait for it to start.”
McLaren also acknowledged Kirchhöfer’s departure, praising his dedication, commitment and outstanding contribution during his time representing the brand. The manufacturer’s tribute reflected a partnership that delivered significant achievements across several major GT championships.
Historic 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa pole among McLaren highlights
One of Kirchhöfer’s most significant achievements with McLaren came during the 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, when he secured the manufacturer’s first overall pole position at the event. Representing Garage 59 in the #59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, the German produced the fastest time during Friday’s Superpole session, establishing a new milestone for the British manufacturer.
His performance placed the McLaren ahead of established contenders from Mercedes-AMG, Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW and Porsche, demonstrating the car’s qualifying potential at one of the world’s most demanding GT3 endurance events.
As detailed in Pit Debrief’s coverage of the 2025 Spa 24 Hours, Kirchhöfer subsequently shared the car with Benjamin Goethe and Joseph Loake. Although Garage 59 could not convert pole position into victory, the trio finished sixth overall after remaining competitive throughout the 24-hour contest.
Kirchhöfer also enjoyed a strong 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup campaign alongside Goethe, securing victories at Misano and Magny-Cours. Their performances helped them finish third in the Sprint Cup standings, while the German remained a regular challenger across the broader championship.
His achievements provided an important foundation for Garage 59’s continued McLaren programme, with the team retaining Kirchhöfer for its 2026 GT World Challenge Europe and WEC commitments.
Garage 59 delivers breakthrough FIA WEC victory at Spa
Kirchhöfer’s final season with McLaren brought another important career milestone as he made his FIA WEC debut with Garage 59. The team entered two McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evos for the 2026 championship, with Kirchhöfer joining Antares Au and Thomas Fleming in the #10 entry.
The trio demonstrated competitive pace immediately during the opening round at Imola, where the McLaren secured LMGT3 pole position and appeared capable of challenging for victory. However, an alternator failure during the closing stages forced the car into retirement, denying Garage 59 a potential winning start to its WEC campaign.
The disappointment was short-lived. At the second round at Spa-Francorchamps, Kirchhöfer, Au and Fleming recovered from 15th on the LMGT3 grid to secure the team’s maiden WEC victory. Although the #21 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari initially crossed the line ahead, a five-second penalty for an unsafe release promoted the #10 McLaren to first in the final classification.
The result represented a significant breakthrough for both Garage 59 and McLaren. As covered in Pit Debrief’s detailed report on the team’s Spa victory, the win followed an intensive recovery effort after Imola and highlighted the crew’s ability to capitalise on opportunities during a closely contested race.
Competitive 2026 WEC campaign concludes at Monza
Following the Spa victory, Kirchhöfer continued competing with Au and Fleming throughout the remaining WEC rounds, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Lone Star Le Mans and the season’s closing European events.
The #10 crew remained competitive during the second half of the campaign, particularly at Barcelona-Catalunya, where the McLaren secured pole position before recovering from a puncture to finish second in LMGT3. The result demonstrated Garage 59’s continued pace, although reliability problems and racing incidents prevented the team from regularly converting its performance into victories.
Kirchhöfer’s final McLaren appearance came at the 6 Hours of Monza on 8 November, where the team entered the weekend hoping to conclude its maiden WEC campaign with another competitive result. Fleming topped LMGT3 during Friday’s opening Free Practice session, providing an encouraging start to the event.
However, the final race proved more challenging. Au spun into the gravel while attempting to avoid an incident involving other LMGT3 competitors during the opening hour, compromising the crew’s prospects.
The #10 McLaren ultimately finished 13th in class, completing 171 laps as Kirchhöfer’s five-season association with McLaren came to an end. The difficult conclusion contrasted with the team’s earlier Spa success, but did not diminish the significance of its maiden WEC campaign.
Kirchhöfer’s 2027 racing plans remain unconfirmed
Although Kirchhöfer has confirmed his departure from McLaren, he has not revealed which manufacturer or team he intends to represent during the 2027 season. His announcement indicates that another chapter of his racing career is approaching, but no formal details have been disclosed.
The German’s future could involve continued participation in international GT3 or endurance racing, although no specific programme has been confirmed. His experience across GT World Challenge Europe, the WEC and other major competitions provides a substantial foundation for future opportunities.
Alongside his McLaren commitments in 2026, Kirchhöfer also contested selected Michelin Endurance Cup events within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He joined Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports, competing in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and gaining experience outside the McLaren programme.
Those appearances demonstrated his involvement with another manufacturer during the season, although they do not establish where he will compete in 2027.
McLaren partnership concludes following significant GT racing achievements
Kirchhöfer’s departure brings an end to a five-season partnership during which he became one of McLaren’s most established factory GT drivers. His achievements included victories in GT World Challenge Europe, success in International GT Open and a historic overall pole position at the 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
His final season added another milestone through Garage 59’s maiden FIA WEC victory at Spa-Francorchamps, secured alongside Au and Fleming. Despite the difficulties encountered during the remaining rounds, the team’s performances demonstrated its competitiveness during its first campaign in the championship.
For McLaren, Kirchhöfer’s departure marks a change to its factory driver roster as the manufacturer prepares for future international GT racing programmes. For the German, it closes a successful period involving several teams, championships and significant career achievements.
With no 2027 programme announced, attention will now turn to Kirchhöfer’s next destination as he prepares to begin a new chapter in his endurance racing career.
