Porsche’s 992-generation 911 GT3 R will contest the final round of this year’s British GT Championship at Brands Hatch with Paddock’s Mark Smith and Martin Plowman.
The team has a long association with McLaren, which it continues to represent in the GT4 class and further afield in the one-make Trophy Europe. However, Smith – who has raced the 720S over the past four seasons – is using the upcoming GT Cup round and British GT championship finale as an opportunity to evaluate a car that has achieved GT3 success around the world.
It means Paddock will return to full strength for the last race of the season, with the Porsche slotting in beside Donington’s GT4 race-winning Artura shared by Revie Lake and Blake Angliss.
The 911 in question belongs to Nick Jones who raced the same chassis in 2025 alongside Sven Müller. The German-Swiss racer set second fastest time in Pro qualifying at Brands Hatch, suggesting the car will be competitive again next weekend.
Its chances are further bolstered by Black Falcon, whose staff are assisting Paddock after first working together during a recent Nürburgring test day. The German outfit has extensive experience of the same car in events such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours and German GT Cup.
“The switch to the Porsche has come about because Mark felt it was the right time for a change as he wants to evaluate some extra options ahead of 2027,” said Plowman. “Doing it now gives him a window to try something new in both GT Cup and British GT without pressure.
“For the team it’s a great opportunity to learn and develop some new skills, especially with the Black Falcon technical staff joining us both at the track and back at base to aid with preparation and operation of the 911. We had a test at the Nürburgring recently and, while it was clear there is a lot to learn as the Porsche is a very different car to handle than the McLaren, we made some strong progress and it will be interesting to see how the two race weekends play out. Obviously, we have modest expectations as it’s a big change, but the GT Cup will serve as a good warm-up before jumping back into British GT.
“Despite us finishing the season with the Porsche, our relationship with McLaren is still a long-term one, and we are already planning programmes with our 720S GT3 Evo and Artura GT4 for next season alongside a multi-car entry into the McLaren Trophy Europe and speaking with interested drivers.”