PWC: Figge and K-PAX McLaren squad look to build on momentum at Long Beach

McLaren triumphs range from the Indy 500 to eight Formula 1 Constructor's Championships, but its sports cars have been absent from North American racing for more than 30 years. That changed last month, when two McLaren 12C GT3s tackled the St. Petersburg Grand Prix for the K-PAX Racing team. The team hopes to build on that experience in Round 2 of the pirelli World Challenge this weekend in Long Beach.

"The St. Pete weekend was a very positive experience for such a new car," said K-PAX driver Alex Figge, who was among the early leaders and finished in the top-10. Figge, in the No. 9 McLaren, and teammate Robert Thorne, in the No. 6 McLaren, will lead the K-PAX team to Long Beach for Sunday's Pirelli World Challenge GT race.

Figge, 32, who nabbed five wins during the past three seasons for K-PAX Racing, will be piloting the McLaren 12C along the 1.97-mile, 11-turn Long Beach street course that he says is his favorite race.

"We're still making positive gains with the car. Despite a lack of experience with this brand-new car (for Figge and his crew), the team did an awesome job at St. Pete. We'd never run even close to a full race, but we hung in there for the full 50 minutes and it was a very positive experience."

"(Crew Chief) Buddy Fey and the guys from McLaren – Ian Morgan and James Carter – worked beautifully together and did a great job. We were fighting for a top-3 position for awhile, the car responded nicely to changes we were making and the advancements are tangible and satisfying. We're heading in the right direction and I couldn't be prouder of the K-PAX team and McLaren."

"I've driven Long Beach quite a few times, including open-wheel, Atlantic, three types of sports cars and Indy Cars. Additionally, I lived in LA for quite awhile, so this is almost like a homecoming."

"I love Long Beach. The whole event is a great experience. It is absolutely my favorite race. We're hoping for a trouble-free weekend and to continue learning about the car. The team and the car are coming together very nicely."