McLaren is probably best known for its Formula One team, but more recently the company has been making waves with its road-car division, McLaren Automotive, builder of the 12C supercar and upcoming P1. McLaren Automotive also has its own motorsport division, McLaren GT, which is responsible for all development and marketing of the 12C GT3 race car.

McLaren GT was recently moved to McLaren’s headquarters in Woking, England, where its close proximity with the homes of the McLaren F1 team and McLaren Automotive provides it with enhanced opportunity to share resources, technology and exchange ideas with the design and engineering specialists from the entire McLaren group.

Now, as a further sign of its growing importance, McLaren GT has announced it has recruited some top F1 engineers. The new recruits include former McLaren F1 engineer Andrew Bailey and former Red Bull Racing man Ian Morgan.

Andrew Bailey was a former vehicle design chief for the McLaren F1 team and oversaw much of the development of Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 championship-winning MP4-23 race car. He will oversee the day-to-day running of McLaren GT as its new operations director.

Ian Morgan, meanwhile, comes from a previous post of engineering chief at Red Bull Racing. As part of Adrian Newey’s team, he supported the team to secure back-to-back drivers and constructors championships in 2010 and 2011. He was also crucial to the development of the Mercedes McLaren SLR supercar.

A third recruit, Tim White, has worked with several F1 support companies, including Ilmor Engineering, Mercedes Benz HPE and Red Bull Technologies. He was most recently involved with Lotus’ IndyCar program.

McLaren GT is now only in its second year. It has so far supplied 25 12C GT3s, which have competed in and won various races this year.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 race car at the Nurburgring

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 race car at the Nurburgring