6 Mar 2018
McLaren Automotive turns up the heat at Geneva Motor Show with unveiling of track-only McLaren Senna GTR Concept
McLaren Senna GTR confirmed for production following all 500 examples of McLaren Senna being sold before launch
Up to 75 track-only cars will be produced, each priced at circa £1 million plus local taxes
More power and torque than road-legal McLaren Senna and up to 1,000kg of downforce will see the McLaren Senna GTR post fastest ever McLaren lap times outside Formula 1
Next instalment in legendary lineage of McLaren F1 GTR and McLaren P1™ GTR
McLaren Automotive, the British creator of luxury sports cars and supercars, is to offer a track-only version of the new Ultimate Series McLaren Senna, to be called the McLaren Senna GTR.
Unveiling the McLaren Senna GTR Concept today (March 6, 2018) at the Geneva International Motor Show, McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt, confirmed that up to 75 examples of the most extreme McLaren car ever will be hand-assembled in Woking, England, during 2019.
“Excelling on the track underpins the heritage of the McLaren brand and is as important and relevant today as it has ever been,” explained Mike Flewitt. “The track-only McLaren Senna GTR will have more power, more grip and more downforce – up to 1,000kg – than the McLaren Senna and post even faster lap times; the very limited number of customers who secure this car will be buying the closest experience you can get to a race car without actually lining up on a circuit grid.”
Expressions of interest will be taken at the Geneva Show and thereafter, with exact technical details of the McLaren Senna GTR confirmed later this year. Based around the same carbon fibre Monocage III structure as the McLaren Senna to ensure the core strength and rigidity needed for a top-flight track car, the McLaren Senna GTR will be similar in weight to the 1,198kg lightest dry total of the road-legal McLaren Senna. With more power and greater torque from the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine than the 800PS and 800Nm developed in the road car – horsepower will increase to at least 825PS – the car will be faster than the ‘standard’ model in a straight line. The additional benefit of a race-style transmission, revised double wishbone suspension and Pirelli slick tyres – together with up to 1,000kg of downforce – will ensure that the McLaren Senna GTR will also post the quickest McLaren circuit lap times outside Formula 1.
The ‘form follows function’ McLaren design philosophy that is at is strongest in the McLaren Senna provides – quite literally – the ideal platform for the McLaren Senna GTR. The car will have a wider track and new fenders front and rear, the changes to the carbon fibre body simplified by the fact that the fenders and other aerodynamic components have been designed as ‘clipped on’ to the cockpit structure, allowing relatively easy modification. The McLaren Senna GTR will also feature a new wheel design, developed specifically for circuit use.
The front splitter of the McLaren GTR Concept is larger than the road-car component and contributes to improved front aerodynamic performance, as does the rear diffuser which is both larger and extends further back. The rear deck is the lowest of any McLaren and aids both aerodynamic performance and cooling, as well as helping to optimise the performance of the active rear wing.
The design of the doors benefits aerodynamic efficiency, the outer skin being ‘pushed in’ as far as possible towards the centre of the car to better channel airflow. Unlike the road-legal McLaren Senna, the McLaren Senna GTR will feature a polycarbonate ‘ticket’ window.
“The McLaren Senna was designed from the outset with the full spectrum of road and track requirements in mind, so developing a GTR version is within the scope of the original project,” explained McLaren Automotive Design Engineering Director, Dan Parry-Williams. “The McLaren Senna GTR Concept unveiled in Geneva is not the finished article but it does give a clear indication of our thinking for the car, which promises to be the most extreme and exciting McLaren to drive for many years, if not ever.”
McLaren Automotive is increasing its focus on providing customers with track-based driving experiences across its full range of cars. A single-make race series has been launched as part of the programme of Pure McLaren track events, allowing McLaren owners with the minimum of an International D-grade licence to take advantage of a full ‘arrive and drive’ package to race in a 570S GT4 car. To support this and other motorsport activities, a network of McLaren retailers specialising in selling and fettling McLaren’s motorsport models has been established; initially 10 in number, the retailers serve Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Further information about the McLaren Senna GTR Concept is available together with images at http://cars.mclaren.com/ultimate-series/mclaren-senna/gtr-concept. Details of the Pure McLaren customer track days can be found at cars.mclaren.com/experiences/pure-mclaren and information on the accompanying one-make race series at cars.mclaren.com/experiences/pure-mclaren/gt-series.
Ends
Notes to Editors:A selection of high resolution images accompanying this release is available to download from the McLaren Automotive media site – cars.mclaren.press
The Senna brand is a registered trademark of Ayrton Senna Empreendimentos Ltda.
About McLaren Automotive:
McLaren Automotive is a creator of luxury, high-performance sportscars and supercars.
The company, launched in 2010, is now the largest part of the McLaren Group.
Every vehicle is hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey, England.
The company has three defined product families: Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series which are retailed through over 80 retailers in 30 markets around the world.
McLaren is a pioneer that continuously pushes the boundaries. In 1981, it introduced lightweight and strong carbon fibre chassis into Formula 1 with the McLaren MP4/1. Then in 1993 it designed and built the McLaren F1 road car – the company has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis since. As part of the Ultimate Series, McLaren was the first to deliver a hybrid hypercar, the McLaren P1™.
Announced in 2016, the company’s Track22 business plan will see the company invest £1billion in research and development to deliver 15 new cars or derivatives by the end of 2022, of which at least half will be hybrids.
2017 saw the company launch further models in line with Track22 including the second-generation Super Series, the 570S Spider and the McLaren Senna.
To support the development, engineering and manufacture of its range of innovative sportscars and supercars, McLaren Automotive partners with world leading companies to provide specialist expertise and technology. These include AkzoNobel, Kenwood, Pirelli and Richard Mille.
About McLaren Group:The McLaren Group is a global leader in luxury high performance and technology and comprises three principal businesses: Automotive, Racing and Applied Technologies.
Further information:
Wayne BruceGlobal Communications & PR Director | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone: +44 (0) 1483 261500Mobile: +44 (0) 7768 132429Email: wayne.bruce@mclaren.com
Daniel GoldingGlobal Head of Corporate Communications | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone:+44 (0) 1483 261500Mobile: +44 (0) 7717 450469Email: daniel.golding@mclaren.com
Paul ChaddertonGlobal Product Communications & PR Manager | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone:+44 (0) 1483 261500Mobile: +44 (0) 7990 776749Email: paul.chadderton@mclaren.com
Amel BoubaayaHead of Lifestyle and EU Communications | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone: +44 (0) 1483 261500Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 531357E-mail: amel.boubaaya@mclaren.com
Adam GronSenior Press Officer – UK | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone: +44 (0) 1483 261500Mobile: +44 (0) 7827 081770Email: adam.gron@mclaren.comTwitter: www.twitter.com/Adam_Gron
Hunter SkipworthSocial Media Manager | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone: +44 (0) 1483 261500Mobile: +44 (0) 7990 564052E-mail: hunter.skipworth@mclaren.com
Roger OrmisherVice President, Communications & PR | McLaren North AmericaPhone: +1 714 501 8137Email: roger.ormisher@mclaren.com
Laura ConradPublic Relations | McLaren North AmericaPhone: +1 765 517 2186Email: laura.conrad@mclaren.com
Karin HaferkornHead of Marketing & PR, Middle East, Africa and Latin America | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone: +44 (0) 1483 261343Mobile: +44 (0) 7899 816872Email: karin.haferkorn@mclaren.com
Sunny ZhangPR Communication Director – China | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone: +86 (0) 21 2074 0520Mobile: +86 186 1617 9933Email: sunny.zhang@mclaren.com
Gracia YapPR Manager – Asia Pacific | McLaren Automotive LimitedPhone: +65 6338 3700Mobile: +65 9109 3698Email: gracia.yap@mclaren.com
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