Garage 59 experienced the full emotional spectrum of endurance racing during its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the 6 Hours of Imola. The British squad arrived with a new challenge—taking over the operation of McLaren’s LMGT3 programme—and immediately demonstrated its potential with a commanding performance.
From securing pole position on debut to controlling significant portions of the race, the team looked set to deliver a sensational victory. However, endurance racing once again proved unforgiving, as a late mechanical failure denied Garage 59 a result that had appeared all but certain.
Garage 59 makes statement of intent from the outset at 2026 WEC opener in Imola
Garage 59 wasted no time in making an impression. The team approached Qualifying with confidence, and Antares Au played his part by progressing cleanly through the opening session.
The spotlight then shifted to Tom Fleming, who delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend. Competing in his first WEC event, the 23-year-old produced a superb Hyperpole lap that outpaced the field by nearly a quarter of a second.
As a result, Garage 59 secured the first LMGT3 pole position of the season for the McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo. This achievement not only highlighted the team’s preparation but also sent a clear message to established competitors that Garage 59 had arrived ready to fight at the front.
Composure and control in the opening stages
When the race began, Au converted pole position into an early lead with a composed and disciplined opening stint. He managed pressure from chasing rivals, particularly the Lexus entries behind, while maintaining a consistent pace.
Moreover, as battles intensified among competitors, Au capitalised on the situation to build a small but valuable buffer. This phase of the race allowed Garage 59 to settle into a rhythm and establish itself as a genuine contender for victory.
Although the first round of pit stops temporarily reshuffled the order, the team remained firmly within striking distance, demonstrating both strategic awareness and operational efficiency.
Fleming’s charge defines the race
The race entered a critical phase when Fleming returned to the cockpit. At this point, the contest had tightened, and Garage 59 needed a decisive response to regain control.
Fleming delivered exactly that. First, he closed down the gap to the leading pack with a series of rapid laps. Then, in a thrilling and highly tactical battle, he challenged Jonny Edgar for the lead.
The decisive moment came after an intense duel, as Fleming executed a clean and confident overtake to reclaim first position. This move not only restored Garage 59’s advantage but also energised the team’s push towards victory.
Subsequently, Fleming extended his lead with remarkable pace and consistency. Within just half an hour, he had built a margin of more than 25 seconds, effectively placing the team in a commanding position heading into the final stint. With Marvin Kirchhofer ready to take over, the path to victory appeared clear.
A cruel twist in the final stages of the 2026 WEC opener sees Garage 59 leaves Imola disappointed
Despite the team’s dominance, endurance racing often delivers unpredictable outcomes. With just 30 minutes remaining, disaster struck.
An alternator failure abruptly ended Garage 59’s race while leading comfortably. The issue forced the car into retirement, erasing what had been a near-flawless performance across qualifying and race conditions.
The sudden loss proved devastating for the team, which had executed every phase of the weekend to a high standard. Nevertheless, Fleming’s exceptional drive earned recognition, as he received the fan-voted Goodyear Wingfoot Award.
Reflecting on the experience, he said, “It would have been great to come away with some good points but unfortunately, racing is quite a cruel mistress,” mused the Essex-born ace. “After the third round of pit-stops, I got in the car and made quick work of the BMW in front, but it looked like the #33 Corvette tried to undercut us by taking fewer tyres than we did, so it was a battle to firstly get onto the back of him before I could have a go at passing.
Eventually, going through Variante Alta, I managed to set up the move for the back straight and got the inside line that I wanted, and then the rest of the stint was really quite tense because of the changing conditions. The track was generally dry but you didn’t know which part of the circuit would remain dry at any given point.
What happened at the end was gutting, especially as my team-mates and the entire team had done such an amazing job, but I think everybody here can be extremely proud of what we’ve all achieved.”
Sister car delivers recovery drive to salvage 2026 WEC Imola opener for Garage 59
While the #10 entry suffered heartbreak, Garage 59’s second car provided a more positive outcome. Alexander West, Benji Goethe, and Finn Gehrsitz mounted an impressive recovery from 16th on the grid.
Through consistent driving, effective strategy, and clean execution, the trio climbed through the field to secure a seventh-place finish. Importantly, this result ensured the team collected valuable championship points despite the disappointment suffered by the lead car.
Lessons learned ahead of Spa
Although the final result did not reflect their true performance, Garage 59 leaves Imola with significant positives. The team demonstrated outright pace, operational strength, and the ability to compete at the front against experienced rivals.
Furthermore, the experience gained during such a demanding race will prove invaluable as the season progresses. Every aspect—from qualifying execution to race management—showed that the foundations for success are firmly in place.
Looking ahead, attention turns to the next round at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The Belgian circuit presents its own unique challenges, yet it also offers an immediate opportunity for redemption.
Ultimately, while Imola delivered a painful lesson, it also confirmed Garage 59’s potential. If the team can combine its evident speed with reliability, it will undoubtedly emerge as a consistent front-runner in the LMGT3 category as the 2026 WEC season unfolds.
