Twenty years on from victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by the now legendary McLaren F1 GTR, McLaren Automotive will resurrect the iconic name from its history for the track-only edition of the award-winning McLaren P1. The limited-run model will go into production when the 375th and final example of the road car has been completed, and in homage to its race-winning ancestor, the most powerful McLaren to date will be named the McLaren P1 GTR.
McLaren has pioneered the use of carbon fibre in vehicle production over the past 30 years, and since introducing a carbon chassis into racing and road cars with the 1981 McLaren MP4/1 and 1993 McLaren F1 respectively, McLaren has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis. Following the company’s global launch in 2010, McLaren Automotive launched the groundbreaking 12C and 12C Spider and followed this in 2013 with the limited-run McLaren P1™. In keeping with its plan to introduce a new model each year, the company recently unveiled the 650S Coupe and 650S Spider.
With no need to comply with road legislation, the McLaren P1 GTR will be designed and developed as the best drivers’ car in the world on track. This will see even greater levels of performance, grip, aerodynamics and downforce than the road car. It will also feature technologies and a powertrain more extreme with an intended power output of 1,000PS (986 bhp), race-proven slick tyres, a widened track and more aggressive and distinctive styling designed to offer optimised performance around a lap.
The decision to produce a track-only variant is in response to demand to McLaren P1 owners. The McLaren P1 GTR programme will be priced at £1.98m, and will include a tailored programme created for each customer to build driver capability. It will include exclusive consultations with the McLaren driver fitness team and Design Director Frank Stephenson, privileged access to one of the McLaren racing simulators, and participation in a minimum of six dedicated international drive events to be held at some of the world’s most iconic Formula 1 circuits. Exact production numbers are still to be determined, but will be strictly limited.
The P1 itself is an extremely advanced super car that is hybrid and now it even gets the GTR spec model, which will be even quicker than the existing P1. Wonder what has Mclaren done to the P1 to add the extra boost and even enhance the handling. The P1 is probably the best Maclrean road car ever made and soon we will see somebody even better than the P1, though it will be a purely track version.
Source : CarDekho