Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse will expand its British GT programme to include a GT4 entry for the first time this season after McLaren Automotive confirmed the team will help develop its all-new 570S GT4.

In a world exclusive unveiling, the manufacturer chose British GT’s annual media day at Snetterton as the perfect opportunity to launch its first GT4 contender. The car, which has remained a closely guarded secret, was rolled out into Snetterton’s pit-lane in front of expectant press earlier this morning ahead of the first test session at 10:00 local time.

McLaren GT, who together with GT racing specialists CRS GT Limited have helped design the 570S GT4, will use British GT as the competitive platform for its season-long development programme before making the car available to customers from 2017.

Confirmation of Ecurie Ecosse’s involvement follows last week’s announcement that the Scottish squad will enter a McLaren 650S GT3 this season after four seasons with Barwell Motorsport and BMW. With its GT4 driver line-up expected to be announced shortly, McLaren factory driver Rob Bell – who will share the senior entry with Alasdair McCaig this year – was entrusted to turn the car’s initial laps.

While the 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine is the same as that found in the road-going Sports Series model, McLaren has made a number of changes to the car’s aesthetics in an effort to refine aerodynamic efficiency. A large rear wing and front splitter retain the tradition of rival GT4 models, while the GT3-inspired bonnet and radiator ducts are designed to improve cooling.

The car also shares the carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis architecture with the other models in the Sports Series, marking the first time such technology has been made available in the GT4 category.

McLaren is just the latest high-profile name to join a thriving British GT4 category, which this year features the likes of Aston Martin, Ginetta, Maserati, Porsche, Lotus and Toyota.

CRS GT Limited Managing Director Andrew Kirkaldy revealed that lessons learned from both the 650S and previous 12C GT3 models had been applied to McLaren’s GT4 programme.

“The 570S GT4 marks a key development of McLaren as a player in the motorsport world, opening the opportunity to race up to a much broader skill level of driver,” he said. “With the 650S GT3, which raced competitively for the first time last year, there was a focus on drivability and the performance envelope was easier to access and exploit. The results speak for themselves, and the 570S GT4 model takes this to the next level and provides drivers the confidence and feedback to push and exploit the boundaries of what the car can do.”

McLaren Automotive also used British GT’s Media Day to make two further important announcements: the appointment of Ansar Ali to the role of Motorsport Director, and another track-only model: the 570S Sprint.

Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive’s Chief Executive Officer, believes the addition of both cars offers the marque an opportunity to reach a new audience.

“As with the road-going models to wear a McLaren badge, the 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint models are about being an engaging and exciting drive,” he said. “The launch of the Sports Series has broadened the McLaren brand to a new audience, introducing technologies to the sports car market and to a new group of customers. The introduction of the 570S GT4 is doing the same in the motorsport world, and will bring the opportunity to own and race a McLaren – previously limited to a very small number of people – to a much wider group.

“The decision to run the car in a live race environment has been taken to ensure the data retrieved is as accurate and optimised as possible, and it will ensure that the cars eventually delivered to customers have been tested to the extremities of how they will be raced. This programme will also provide key information and form the testbed for the 570S Sprint model which, as with the previous Sprint models, will not be subject to the rules and regulations of any specific race series.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Ansar to McLaren Automotive in such a key role,” he added. “Motorsport is part of the lifeblood of the McLaren brand, and this role will be key to our long-term plans as we continue to expand the product range and customer-appeal around the world.”