The McLaren 650S GT3 began its 2016 European campaign in the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup opener at Misano, Italy with a double points finish. Despite tricky conditions throughout, Factory Drivers Rob Bell and Alvaro Parente scored valuable points in both races of the weekend and showed impressive pace during qualifying in the No. 58 McLaren 650S GT3, run by new customer team Garage 59.
Bell and Parente were consistently quick throughout the two free practice sessions and this form continued into qualifying. The pair steered the car into the Q3 shootout session before Parente set a 1:33.277 lap to place his McLaren 650S GT3 second on the grid, just 0.015-second off the pole-sitter.