F1 allies in GT1 battle

McLaren and its Formula 1 engine supplier Mercedes-Benz will go head to head in the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship.

Two frontrunners in the World Championship will run the respective GT3 cars produced by the two manufacturers. Hexis Racing, which won the 2011 teams’ title with Aston Martin, will field a pair of McLaren MP4-12C GT3s in the 10-round series, while All-Inkl.com/Münnich Motorsport will run two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s.

The championship is adopting GT3 rules for next season in a move that series boss Stephane Ratel hopes will allow him to assemble a field of 10 two-car teams each representing a different manufacturer. His back-up plan is to amalgamate the series with the FIA GT3 European Championship.