Flying Lizard Confirms Two-Car McLaren Trophy Program

Image: Flying Lizard Motorsports

Flying Lizard Motorsports has confirmed a two-car entry into the new McLaren Trophy America series, which will debut next weekend at Sonoma Raceway in conjunction with the SRO America season-opening event.

The Phoenix-based team will field Artura Trophy EVO cars for George Lawrence III and 2023 TC America champion Spencer Bucknum, with Brandon Kreutz and Caanan O’Connell in the second entry.

“Having two cars competing in the debut of the McLaren Trophy Series in the U.S. is exciting,”  said program manager Darren Law.

“We have a successful history with McLaren having won races and championships with them in SRO GT World Challenge in the 650S GT3 car and look forward to working with them again.

“We have had the opportunity to spend some time testing the cars and I had the opportunity to see this series running in Europe at Spa-Francorchamps, we are all impressed with the performance of the car.

“McLaren has such a rich history in racing, and we look forward to getting this season underway.”

The 2025 season will be the first time Lawrence steps into professional sports car racing. His journey began in karting before transitioning to motocross and quad racing.

Once behind the wheel of a car, he took to drag racing, track days, and local testing sessions to build his road racing skills.

“I researched all the teams on the West Coast and came up with Flying Lizard as being the best fit for me,” said Lawrence. “Not only for their great past history for winning, but the whole group, from top to bottom, is there to serve someone like myself who is a novice to the GT world of racing.”

He will team up with Bucknum, a third-generation racer whose lineage traces back to Formula 1. Bucknum secured the 2023 TC America TCA championship before moving up to compete in the Toyota GR Cup last season.

“Flying Lizard has a long history of success, and I am hoping to add to this success throughout this season with my teammate, George Lawrence,” said Bucknum.

“I think being a new series to the States, there will be some things to iron out, but I am confident that this will be a strong program and I’m looking forward to kicking off the season shortly at one of my favorite tracks, Sonoma Raceway.”

The campaign marks the first time Kreutz steps into professional sports car racing. He spent from 2011-2017 running cars in the Global Time Attack series racing at multiple tracks across the us such as Road America, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca.

“I have been watching sports car racing for many years and have followed the history of Flying Lizard Motorsports,” said Kreutz. “They are one of the premier GT teams in the paddock, and I am proud to be a part of the organization. I am really impressed with the performance of the Artura Trophy EVO.

“I have been working hard with my coach, Cannan O’Connell, and even though this is my first season of professional racing, I feel we are ready and look forward to the first race.”

O’Connell, the son of sports car racing veteran Johnny, made his professional racing debut at age 20 in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where he finished fifth in class.

In the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge TCB class, he amassed an five wins, nine podiums, eight pole positions, and three track records. Beyond racing, O’Connell brings 12 years of professional driver coaching experience, working with both professional drivers and military training programs.

“It’s a dream come true to be racing such an incredible car with one of the best-known teams in professional racing,” he said.

“I grew up watching the Flying Lizards dominate sports car racing, and to have my name added to the list of drivers for Flying Lizard is one of the most significant moments of my life.

“And to be under the tutelage of Darren Law, one of the racing greats, and a lifelong friend of my family, makes it all the more special.”