The driving force roster is about for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s new multi-year collaborative effort with McLaren Automotive for the 2026 season within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The three way partnership that sees the crew acknowledged as RLL Group McLaren, has named Max Esterson and Nikita Johnson as its full-season drivers for the upcoming marketing campaign, competing within the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) Professional class behind the wheel of the No. 59 McLaren GT3 EVO. Moreover, Dean MacDonald and Jüri Vips will be a part of the duo for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Esterson, MacDonald and Vips joined the crew throughout an IMSA take a look at at Daytona Worldwide Speedway again in November.
Vips, a former Purple Bull reserve driver who has made three mixed IndyCar begins with RLL (2023-24), expressed his enthusiasm as he prepares to make his Rolex 24 debut.
“I’m excited to get my first style of endurance racing, particularly at such an iconic occasion just like the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” mentioned Vips, 25. “The take a look at went nicely; there have been no large hiccups, and we acquired a whole lot of mileage. I had a whole lot of issues to get used to. Driving a GT3 automobile may be very completely different to something I’ve finished earlier than however I’ve acquired a a lot better concept now. I really feel good and ready; McLaren has been actually useful as nicely with all the pieces to get me in control with all of the programs and issues they’ve within the automobile. I’m wanting ahead to it.”
The upcoming sixty fourth working of the endurance traditional, set for Jan. 21-25, marks McLaren Automotive’s return to the GTD Professional class, lining up alongside the likes of Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche.
Juri Vips, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photographs
Esterson, who spent final 12 months competing in Formulation 2 with Trident, made one begin in IMSA on the tail finish of 2025 with JDC-Miller Motorsports at Petit Le Mans.
“After racing in single seaters my entire profession up so far, making the change to IMSA within the GTD PRO class is a really large and thrilling new chapter for me,” mentioned Esterson, 25. “It’s nice to be becoming a member of such a robust and established crew like RLL and I’m excited to see what we are able to do along with McLaren this season beginning at Daytona.”
Johnson, 17, who may also compete in Indy NXT this upcoming season with Andretti Cape, added, “I’m very joyful and honored to assist construct the brand new McLaren period with RLL and I’m excited to run the full-year with Max. As a Florida native, I’m particularly excited to begin all of it off in Daytona with a fantastic four-driver lineup. Thanks to all of RLL for this chance.”
This 12 months additionally marks a brand new starting for RLL, who have been related to BMW Motorsport in IMSA from 2009-25.
Like Vips, the 25-year-old MacDonald may also be making his debut in IMSA’s crown jewel occasion. The crew will get an opportunity to get again in control later this week with the Roar Earlier than the Rolex 24, set for Jan. 16-18.
“I’m very joyful to be doing my first Daytona 24 hour race and to be doing it with RLL within the McLaren makes it much more thrilling,” MacDonald mentioned.
“I acquired my first style of Daytona and dealing with the crew not too way back and I imagine we are able to go into the race difficult for a win within the GTD PRO class so I can’t wait to lastly get going once more on the ROAR!”
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