What happens in the pit area of an endurance-racing team at a major European racetrack? Lots of things, including lots of lubricants and spare nuts. Sounds like a party. No, seriously. It's actually the headquarters for quite an amazing tactical feat.

Nine McLaren MP4-12C GT3 racecars (in six customer-team liveries, including the classic powder-blue-and-marigold Gulf) are competing this weekend at the Belgian bucket-list confab, Spa24. How does the GT3 differ from the road car — and what it's like to drive in an endurance race? Let's query driver Rob Bell.

McLaren's first development outing in the $500,000 MP4-12C GT3 at the Spa 24 Hours proved a mixed bag. The number 59 car of Andrew Kirkaldy, Alvaro Parente and Oliver Turvey, quickest in pre-qualifying, hit a wall at turn one, after just two laps.

Want to be the first privateer team to race a McLaren MP4-12C? They'd love to hear from you. But first, check out the first shakedown of the MP4-12C GT3 at Silverstone in the UK. Portuguese driver Álvaro Parente's the wheelman.