Benjamin Goethe scored his first podium behind the wheel of a Mclaren 720S last weekend in Barcelona.
Goethe joined McLaren’s talent roster as a Junior PRO driver last year, racing with Garage 59 in the GT World Challenge Europe championship. Over the past two seasons, he came tantalisingly close to a top-three finish several times but narrowly missed out on a spot on the podium – until now. His breakthrough came at the 2024 season finale in Barcelona.
Sharing the #159 McLaren 720S with Tom Gamble in the GTWCE Sprint Cup, Goethe and his teammate put on a strong performance throughout the season, achieving their second-best result of P4 in the opening round.
The pair had a solid start to the final weekend, setting the fourth-fastest time in Pre-Qualifying. However, treacherous weather conditions on Saturday hindered their progress, and they finished race 1 in ninth in the Pro Cup.
Sunday, however, marked a turning point. Despite a qualifying session delayed by heavy fog, Tom Gamble secured a P3 starting position for the final Sprint Cup race of the season. After a brilliant start, Gamble stormed into second place, maintaining the position until the pit stop. An unlucky driver change saw Goethe slip behind the Aston Martin, but the German McLaren Junior fought back hard. In a thrilling battle, he fended off fellow countryman Maro Engel’s attack to secure third place at the chequered flag.
The result not only delivered Goethe and Gamble’s first podium of the season but also marked Benjamin’s first-ever top-three finish in the Pro Cup.
Benjamin Goethe:
“I’m really happy with this result. Our first podium with the team after an up-and-down season! It was a tough race, especially being stuck behind the Aston Martin despite having great pace and then managing the pressure from the Mercedes behind. I just focused on holding my position until the chequered flag. Huge thanks to the team for their relentless effort. The car felt incredible, and their hard work all season has really paid off. Now, just one more race to go in the endurance season. Let’s finish strong!”
The GTWCE Endurance Cup season finale is set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from November 28-30.