Pfaff Motorsports’ Steve Bortolotti: McLaren Going Toe To Toe With The Rest In GTD Pro

Pfaff Motorsports’ General Manager Steve Bortolotti was bubbling with enthusiasm for the team’s 2024 GTD programme with McLaren when DSC caught up with him last week ahead of the official announcement.

“From the very start of serious discussion with McLaren, it was clear that they shared our vision. Since progressing that conversation the narrative has been clear and consistent around the choices for the programme:

“Will this get us great results?”

“That’s a place we want to get back to after a sometimes frustrating 2023.”

That’s a reference to what has turned into an unhappy season for the team with its Porsche 911 GT3.R (Type 992), which has needed substantial BoP help to bring it into a competitive performance band. That is in part linked to issues for the car that have been acknowledged by Porsche Motorsport, attributed to wheel speed sensor problems affecting other systems.

Pfaff though sees the switch to McLaren as a step change in partnership:

“We want to work with a group that shares our ambition, and our aspirations. We definitely have that with McLaren at this point. I’m very much looking forward to having a manufacturer partner that wants to win!

“We want to go toe to toe with the other manufacturers in GTD Pro where the competition is absolutely world-class, a position that is likely to be even more the case with the expected growth in the class for 2024.”

That growth features both Ford and Corvette coming with new cars and two GTD Pro cars apiece, plus BMW, Lexus and now Mclaren efforts confirmed, along with new Porsche efforts in the class with AO Racing and Kellymoss with Riley. In total, the class looks set to feature around nine cars for the full season.

Pfaff’s continued presence in the IMSA Championship is guided to no small degree by the priorities of the parent company which has multiple McLaren dealerships, principally in North America.

“We have looked at WEC but the North American market is where we are at. This programme is again tailored to maximise that. Beyond the racing itself, this programme features major engagement with the dealer network, both those we own and the others around the schedule, both on and off-event. We want to bring road car and motorsport customers to the races, and we want to bring the races to the dealerships. I’m really excited to see what can be achieved.”

There is though one change to the Pfaff Motorsports programme that might see at least some backlash: No Plaid!

The patriotic Canadian squad has run with Plaid liveries for a number of seasons. That all goes away with the debut at Daytona of the team’s McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.

“Yes, I’m sad in some ways but this is a new start and that needs to be recognised. No clues yet but expect something you would recognise immediately to be a Mclaren!”

And are there any plans to expand the effort beyond a single car?

“Not at the moment, but we are always open to opportunities if the commercial case can be made. We’ve run cars in other series with McLaren customers and we’ll, of course, be keeping in close contact with McLaren, and through our motorsport dealers, with any options that emerge.”

And what about GTP? There have been indications that this is something that the company might be targeting.

“At present, it is very firmly a ‘Wait and see’. Wait and see how things emerge for Pfaff Motorsports and wait and see what happens with McLaren. We know that they are at a crossroads but we are confident in their vision and we want to be part of it going forward.

“As far as GTP is concerned, if and when they commit we want to be part of that conversation.”

Plus – if you want even more on the story listen in to the latest special edition of #TWISC – The Week In Sportscars Podcast as Marshall Pruett catches up with Steve Bortolotti

The post Pfaff Motorsports’ Steve Bortolotti: McLaren Going Toe To Toe With The Rest In GTD Pro first appeared on dailysportscar.com.