Mail Sport’s Heather Dewar was invited to spend some time with McLaren at Brands Hatch earlier this month and experienced first hand the speed and thrill of the race…
I’m sitting in a McLaren supercar, about to set off on a hotlap, when the driver pauses momentarily.
‘How do you switch this on?’ he laughs.
It’s my first time on the track at Brands Hatch, first time in a McLaren Artura Trophy EVO. I don’t think I can help him.
‘Have you driven one of these before?’ I ask nervously.
‘Nope,’ he smiles. ‘Never!’
And so it was, that I gleefully started my inaugural lap of the famous former Grand Prix track in Kent; my French driver adapting with astonishing speed to the tarmac before him.
If I had a grin on me, the length of the Tiber, there was very good reason.
The car handles magnificently, taking on corners with supreme agility, while roaring seamlessly away in speeds up to 160mph. This McLaren is not only ridiculously sexy, it’s also unbelievably good fun. And very, very fast.
Mail Sport’s intrepid reporter Heather Dewar was with the McLaren team at Brands Hatch
Heather watches on as some of the stars of the future took to the famous track
With speeds of up to 160mph, the supercars are certainly not for the faint-hearted
‘Well done, Artur,’ I exclaim, smiling, as I come to the end of my lap. Not bad for a first attempt.
In truth, the ride has been brilliant. Quite simply, it’s easy to see why this car is attracting a legion of young drivers – all eager to take part in the McLaren Trophy Europe.
The event, now in its third series, pits pros against pros, and pros alongside amateurs in a single-make championship. It’s an innovative format, so I’m here to find out more about what makes the competition tick.
First port of call is Maurice Henry, a 22-year-old who has just been taken into McLaren’s Trophy Academy.
For Henry, racing cars has never been about Formula 1. He knew early on that there were other areas of manoeuvre – with GT racing (Gran Turismo) at the heart of it.
Having recently entered this exclusive club, he laughs heartily as he eyes up the challenge ahead.
The Academy – which takes on just 13 drivers – is essentially a talent pool for those under the age of 26.
Those involved are entered into a development programme with the British manufacturer, with the ultimate goal of becoming a fully-fledged McLaren factory driver.
‘To have your name against such a prestigious brand and to get the recognition, it’s mind-blowing,’ says Henry.
‘In Motorsport, there are so many barriers to entry. That’s what makes it so hard. We don’t come from a wealthy background. My dad works as a telecommunications consultant. He had to sacrifice everything to get me here. Sell assets, cars, take out a loan. Everyone thinks you just turn up and drive, but I’m working really hard behind the scenes to make this all happen.’
Henry partners up with Fiona James this season, the only female competing in the McLaren Trophy Europe.
When we meet, there has been an issue in qualifying. Problems with their car mean that they don’t finish Saturday’s event – and Henry will therefore miss his chance to race. The youngster, however, is philosophical.
Heather was determined to experience the cars first hand- and was left suitably impressed
‘That’s motorsport,’ he reflects. ‘We go again tomorrow.’
It’s clear from the outset that Henry has the utmost respect for his amateur co-driver.
Now into her second series, James is an established figure on the circuit having competed in multiple events.
A breeder of Olympic and Paralympic dressage horses, the amateur is well accustomed to fierce competition – and set up Walero clothing (named after Active Walero, who competed in the 2004 Athens Games) for motorsport enthusiasts after seeing a gap in the market for temperature-regulating base layers.
Her branding now sits proudly on her rented McLaren, a constant reminder of ambition and success.
‘I remember my dad watching F1 when I was a kid,’ she tells me, ‘but it just never occurred to me that cars and racing was something anyone could do.
‘I didn’t know about this whole world outside of F1. I liked cars, and eventually I got a nice Turbo 996 Porsche, so I thought I should really go and learn how to drive it safely without killing everyone around me. I went for a lesson on track, and the instructor just said I had a feel for it. He asked me if I had ever thought about racing.
‘I eventually got the bug for it, worked my way up, did a lot of GT stuff – and then heard about the McLaren series. McLaren are doing so well at the moment, and they’re just so professional. They’re amazing to work with. In terms of the car itself, the EVO feels like a proper race car.’
James, whose mum was half Scottish and grew up in Dundee, is a product of her own success – but given the lack of women in the event, just how realistic is it really for others to follow in her footsteps?
‘Women can absolutely compete on an equal-footing with men here,’ she says.
‘Only a few sports allow this – sailing, equestrian, motorsport among them. It’s so important to have spaces where genders can showcase their strengths alongside each other.
‘For me, the experience of racing has been mostly positive, but as a woman in motorsport, you often have to prove yourself twice as much as a man.
‘Mistakes are less easily forgiven, and you’re scrutinised more closely. That said, things have improved a lot since I started. There are far more women competing and working behind the scenes, in roles like engineering, strategy, and technical support.
‘However, I still often find myself the only woman on track. Reactions to that vary depending on where you are. In the UK and Europe, people are often surprised to learn I race – especially when they learn that I race against men.
The McLaren Trophy Europe features both male and female drivers
‘In the US, though, it’s a different story. People are more accepting and simply ask what car or series I race in. It’s not unusual for me to be mistaken for my co-drivers’ mum or guardian when signing on, or for people at the track to assume my other half is the one racing.’
Rob Bell, McLaren Motorsport’s Sporting Director, believes times are changing when it comes to females taking part but insists that integration from the bottom upwards is key.
It’s a central theme, too, for their McLaren Trophy Academy.
‘There’s definitely a place for more women,’ says Bell.
‘There is no reason whatsoever that women cannot be competitive in any field of motorsport. We’re open-minded to anything.
‘McLaren is a one-piece automotive company. The heritage is there and motorsport is an integral part of that.
‘You might say there’s one division of Formula 1 and motorsport, but actually, it’s one group. It’s McLaren. That’s it. We like to think that if you can buy into that, especially as a young driver coming through, that gives you the confidence and that feeling of belonging, being part of something.
‘Where the academy comes in, for example, is that you’re on the ground level of learning, learning your craft in our cars. We held a welcome event at the MTC recently, where we invited everyone to come and we did a parade from Woking to here at Brands Hatch.
‘As a young individual, that’s not something that’s offered to everyone. We have 13 drivers in our Academy, and mentality, positive attitude, is a huge part of that. It’s trying to make sure that at the end of the year, if nothing else, they’re a better, well-rounded, more educated driver than they were when they started with us.’
With its new car, McLaren hope to entice a new generation of fans and if the on-road hybrid version is anything to go by, that shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve. Having been let loose behind the wheel for a few hours pre hotlaps (all £220,000 of it), I can attest to its ability to attract whoops of excitement from those watching from the sidelines.
Whatever way you look at it, the McLaren Artura has the ‘wow’ factor in spades.
It’s the only car I’ve ever been in where people grab for their phones as you quietly approach. Where kids shout loudly: ‘Rev the engine!’ and where cars of all shapes and sizes let you pass with dignity and grace – almost bowing in acknowledgement of McLaren’s fine engineering.
Add to that the inevitable association with two of the ‘coolest’ sport stars on the planet – Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris -and it’s easy to see why the younger generation are similarly enamoured. They just ‘get’ the appeal.
By the end of the weekend, Piastri and Norris land a 1st and 2nd place at the Miami Grand Prix. It’s another boost for the manufacturer – who lead both the Drivers and Constructors championships. They’re a much-respected duo.
Tales abound of Norris mingling regularly with staff at the MTC (McLaren Technology Centre). ‘Top Bloke’ is widely whispered – while kids and adults alike are full of praise for the Aussie, Piastri.
McLaren hopes to attract more people to motorsport – and the supercars have the wow factor
James and Henry, meanwhile, pick up the Papaya Cup after impressing on Sunday’s outing. A new award for the 2025 season, it recognises the achievements of Pro-AM and Am drivers over a certain age – or with limited race experience.
Their victory – like that of Piastri – will be celebrated by the entire McLaren family.
As the weekend at Brands Hatch comes to a close, I notice a sign set high above me in McLaren’s hospitality.
Glowing brightly in papaya orange, it reads simply: ‘Live Life Like It’s Your Last Lap’.
It feels particularly pertinent, in a world whose axis spins so radically, on the wheels of success.
‘You’re thrown right in the deep end for this,’ admits Henry.
‘Last night, I got sent a manual. I did my homework, was trying to understand the controls. I didn’t even know how to start the car. That’s exactly what you’ve got to do now when you’re expecting to turn pro. Just jump in the car and see what you can do.’
His words linger as I wave goodbye to the dispersing crowds, the smell of burning rubber, and the clink of parts being dismantled.
What a great analogy for life.