McLaren has been a big player in the GT3 space ever since its MP4-12C-based machine made its debut in 2011. It has released no less than four different versions of cars based on its road-going models, with the latest being based on the 720s supercar.
The current version of the racer, the 720s GT3 Evo, came to Le Mans Ultimate in December 2024 as one of the first LMGT3 challengers to grace the title. This guide will explore the British weapon, and whether it’s the car that will best suit your driving style.
The 720s GT3 Evo Has Proven Useful In The Hands Of Real Drivers
The 720s GT3 Evo has competed worldwide since it made its debut in 2023, campaigning in series like IMSA and the WEC, as well as high-end domestic series like British GT and the International GT Open. The LMGT3 version of the 720s Evo has shown strong pace in the hands of a variety of drivers since making its WEC debut in 2024 in the hands of United Autosports, the car claiming a first podium finish in the 2024 Six Hours of Sao Paulo in the hands of Josh Caygill, Marino Sato and Nico Pino.
It kicked off the 2025 WEC term in strong fashion, with the #95 entry leading a 1-2 in qualifying before the sister #59 720s Evo claimed a strong runner-up result in the Qatar 1812 km, chasing the race-winning Corvette right to the chequered flag.
While the McLaren’s turbocharged V8 engine isn’t the most emotive powerplant from a noise perspective, the 720s’ striking looks and McLaren’s extensive racing pedigree ensure it’s a popular car with fans.
- The 720s GT3 Evo needs a little more experience to get the most from, due to its mid-engined layout that can bite if you don’t get a proper handle on it. To pick up some tips on how to drive it and to see how it reacts in the hands of a pro driver, take a look at this lap guide with the 720s GT3 at Fuji.
Car Specifications & Key Features
Like its other GT3 rivals, the 720s GT3 is designed to make use of the technology already developed to make its road-going equivalent so effective. It therefore uses a race-prepared version of the twin-turbo 4.0-liter M840T V8 engine, which is placed in the middle of the car to enhance weight distribution. It produces around 600 hp, though its final power output is decided by the Balance of Performance measures each series uses.
The 720s GT3 Evo was designed to refine some of the rough edges that presented themselves with the first edition of the 720s GT3.
- Its aero setup was revised, with the aero balance moved further forward to ensure car balance was more neutral when dealing with dirty air in traffic, as well as making more peak downforce to improve grip and stability at high speeds
- This makes it more usable and easier to drive for less experienced racers than its predecessor
- The suspension adjustability was also revised to widen its performance window, while certain components were strengthened to deal better with impacts sustained during a race
- LMU stays true to the changes made to the 720s GT3 Evo and simulates the exact electronic and mechanical setups that set the McLaren apart from its rivals
If you want to make sure you’re fully clued up on the sim, check out Coach Dave Academy’s Ultimate Starter Guide to Le Mans Ultimate.
Handling & Performance on Track
The McLaren 720s GT3 Evo handles like a typical mid-engined race car, with a more oversteer-centered balance being prevalent from the moment you head out on the track. Due to the engine being placed in the centre of the chassis, it acts as a pivot point and causes the weight to be spread equally between both axles, allowing the car to change direction more quickly.
Rather than being unpredictable at times like the rear-engined Porsche 911 GT3.R though, the McLaren’s longer wheelbase and stable aero platform means it’s still stable, even in higher speed corners when mid-engined cars can sometimes bite.
This means that as long as you get your corner entry speed correct, the 720s GT3 can be trusted to stick nicely to the racing line, where it can carry more mid-corner speed than more cumbersome front-engined machines. The mid-engined layout is particularly useful in slower corners, as the centre-mounted weight helps the unweighted nose and tail to rotate nicely, allowing for crisper turn-in. This means you can carry more mid-turn speed, as well as get on the power earlier at the corner exit.
- Brake in a straight line and aim to carry extra corner speed in bends, rather than get the car parked on the apex and squaring off the bend to improve lap speed
- It’s less stable under braking than front-engined challengers, but once understood can be used to carry more turn-in speed
- Extra oversteer can cause rears to wear out faster, amplifying rear grip and traction issues
- Despite being a twin-turbocharged engine, the McLaren enjoys superb traction and good low-down torque
- Impressive mechanical grip means lower TC settings can be utilised
- Due to the engine being placed more rearwards, there is less weight on the front, so ABS can kick in under heavy braking more easily than in a front-engined car, where the weight helps to push the dominant front wheels into the road
- ABS kicking in can drastically reduce turn-in on entry, which can occur more often when the front tyres start to wear
Best Tracks for the McLaren 720s GT3 Evo in Le Mans Ultimate
While the McLaren 720s GT3 isn’t one of the fastest LMGT3 contenders down the straights, its excellent aero platform and agility thanks to its mid-engined layout means you can carry a good amount of speed onto the straight to defend from some of the more powerful cars. It excels in low-speed corners due to its responsive direction changes, making it great through chicanes too when compared to more cumbersome front-engined cars.
- This makes it a good option for most track layouts, as it is agile enough to deal with slower circuits, but responsive and stable enough to work well at higher-speed venues
- Lesser straight-line speed means it won’t work quite so well as power tracks like Monza and Le Mans, and better at more technical venues like Imola and Fuji
- The 720s GT3 Evo also works well in wet conditions, though it needs a confident driver to make the most of it. Less experienced pilots may struggle with over-rotation, and with less grip that can lead to more spins
- Overdriving tends to lead more to oversteer than understeer, so practice will likely be needed to make use of its natural rotation in dodgy conditions
This is reflected in real life, as the 720s GT3 tends to be competitive pretty much everywhere. This is illustrated by its podium finishes in Qatar and Brazil, which between them feature plenty of high-speed and lower-speed bends
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How It Compares to Other Cars in the Class
The 720s GT3 Evo feels closer to its mid-engined competition like the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, though it’s a little less stable than the former and more drivable than the latter, which can be snappy. It’s noticeably more agile than front-engined challengers like the Ford Mustang GT3 and BMW M4 GT3, but less so than the rear-engined Porsche 911 GT3.R. The front-engined machines are superior when attacking curbs.
- Despite having a longer wheelbase than the 296 GT3 (106.1 vs 104.7 inches), its rear end isn’t quite as stable, though there isn’t much in it
- Its shorter wheelbase and mid-engine configuration ensure it is more agile than front-engined cars, but it can fight back in terms of mid-corner and braking stability
Those who enjoy getting the car set up for the following turn on the brakes and carrying extra corner speed will be better suited to the 720s Evo, especially compared to front-engine cars like the Mustang GT3 which need to be stopped at the apex and squared off to make the most of them. Drivers with a less aggressive driving style, like those who don’t naturally attack curbs to find speed, will also be rewarded with the fidelity of the McLaren.
It will work best on more technical tracks that don’t require heavy curb use, like Spa-Francorchamps and Interlagos. To take a look at the other cars available as part of LMU’s LMGT3 class, Coach Dave Academy’s outline of each will prove useful.
Final Verdict: Is the McLaren 720s GT3 Evo the Right Choice for You?
For pilots who are struggling to get on with the nose-heavy handling of the front-engine cars and feel the rear-engine Porsche is a little too wild, the McLaren 720s GT3 Evo is a good choice to enter the world of mid-engined competition. Its slightly longer wheelbase compared to similarly-configured rivals like the Ferrari 296 GT3 gives it slightly more stability in high-speed corners, though it still has impressive agility in slower bends.
Its smooth engine and impressive traction also make it easy to trust on corner exits, though its natural rotation means that rear tyre wear needs to be kept on top of during a stint, especially for more naturally aggressive drivers.
| Pros | Cons |
| A longer wheelbase than mid-engine rivals means it’s a little more stable in high-speed bends | Not particularly strong on the straights |
| Can suffer from rear tyre wear during longer stints, especially with drivers with more aggressive driving styles, which can cause oversteer | The engine has a smooth power curve, which twinned with a strong mechanical rear grip allows the car excellent traction from slower corners |
| Stable and approachable in the wet when compared to other mid-engined cars with shorter wheelbases | |
| The engine has a smooth power curve, which twinned with a strong mechanical rear grip allows the car excellent traction from slower corners |
While the 720S GT3 Evo isn’t quite as approachable as front-engined cars like the BMW M4 GT3 and Ford Mustang GT3, it’s a little more stable in high-speed bends than the likes of the Ferrari 296 GT3, which has a shorter wheelbase. It’s well suited to drivers looking to get started with mid-engined GT3 challengers.
- Aggressive Drivers: 4/10
- Endurance Racers: 9/10
- Casual Sim Racers: 7/10
Wrapping Up
The McLaren 720s GT3 Evo provides an approachable start to life in a mid-engined GT3 car and will prepare you better for the challenge of hopping into a faster LMP2 or hypercar than the front-engined contenders available in LMU. Whatever experience you find when running it, we hope this guide has been a help to you.
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