Last night, my wife and I attended one of Atlanta’s most exclusive automotive gatherings—McLaren’s States of Endurance tour stop—an evening that proved yet again why the saying holds true: “Atlanta Influences Everything.”
A Gathering of Owners and Icons
The valet section outside the venue set the tone before the first champagne glass was raised. Among the 150 or so hand-selected guests, the parking lot looked like a curated automotive exhibition: Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, and McLarens sat shoulder to shoulder, each car representing the caliber of wealth and taste that has become synonymous with Atlanta’s growing luxury community. It wasn’t hard to speculate that the majority of those in attendance were either McLaren owners themselves or competitors in the same rarefied space.
Atlanta’s role in this event was not incidental. As Jeff Tink, VP of Sales for McLaren Americas, noted during the introduction, McLaren Atlanta has rapidly ascended into the brand’s top five dealerships nationwide for new car sales. The city’s combination of affluence, influence, and appetite for luxury performance cars made it a natural stop on this ambitious coast-to-coast drive.
The States of Endurance Story
The evening wasn’t just about cocktails and camaraderie—it was steeped in racing history. McLaren’s executives reminded us that 2025 marks 30 years since McLaren’s first Le Mans victory, a milestone that secured their “Triple Crown of Motorsport” with wins at Monaco, Indianapolis, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
To celebrate, McLaren unveiled the 750S Le Mans, a limited-edition supercar of which only 50 will ever exist. The one displayed last night—the only completed example in the world—was already spoken for. And, in a detail that drew smiles across the crowd, that lucky future owner lives right here in Atlanta.
The car itself is more than a tribute; it’s an evolution. Built upon the award-winning 750S platform, the Le Mans edition carries a full carbon fiber downforce kit—front splitter, roof scoop, and active rear wing—that delivers 10% more aerodynamic grip. Its five-spoke wheels echo the very same design from the 1995 F1 GTR that conquered Le Mans, bridging the past to the present.
Endurance in Motion
The States of Endurance tour is more than a display of exotic machinery. It’s a rolling homage to stamina, determination, and engineering precision. Three McLarens—two 750S models and an Artura—are driving from Monterey to Miami, covering 3,867 miles, the exact distance raced in McLaren’s 1995 Le Mans victory.
The cars arrived in Atlanta exactly as they had left California—unwashed and road-worn—a visible reminder that endurance racing, like life itself, isn’t about staying spotless, but about enduring every mile, every obstacle. Race drivers Ollie Webb, Paul Rees, and Jack Barlow, imported directly from England, shared road stories ranging from close calls with truck tire debris to clever drafting strategies that squeezed out precious extra miles of fuel on America’s wide-open highways.
Why Atlanta Matters
Atlanta wasn’t chosen by chance. It was chosen because it sits at the intersection of wealth, culture, and influence. McLaren knows that our city is not just a market for luxury cars—it’s a trend-defining hub where luxury lifestyles are curated, displayed, and broadcast to the world.
Walking out at the end of the evening, the glow of taillights reflecting off millions of dollars of machinery in the valet line told its own story. Atlanta doesn’t just host events like this—it validates them. McLaren’s decision to bring States of Endurance here underscores what those of us who live here already know: Atlanta is, and continues to be, a city that sets the pace.
