Scottish race legend, motorsport commentator and three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Dario Franchitti, has teamed up with Gordon Murray Automotive to play an important role in the development of the T.50 supercar
Franchitti will play a key role in the development of the all-new T.50 supercar and the racing-focused T.50s
Dario will be a senior spokesperson for the company and will present an exclusive behind the scenes video series on the T.50 development journey
Gordon Murray Automotive will lean heavily on Franchitti’s racing experience to help with the setting up of track events for T.50s customers and the investigation into a potential race series for supercars
Dunsfold, Surrey, UK 9 October 2020 Scottish race legend, motorsport commentator and three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Dario Franchitti, has teamed up with Gordon Murray Automotive to play an important role in the development of the T.50 supercar.
In this newly created position, Dario will play a key role in the development work for the recently revealed T.50 supercar and the racing-focused T.50s track version. He will also be sharing the progress of the T.50 through exclusive videos. Dario’s first appearance is on this exclusive tease video: Dario Franchitti – T.50 Vlog.
Professor Gordon Murray said: “I have been a friend and admirer of Dario for many years and I am delighted that he has joined the Gordon Murray Group family. His role will help us to hone the T.50 as the most driver-centric supercar ever built. His skills as a driver need no introduction but his well-known appreciation of road cars is rare for a racing driver in my experience. His relationship with our business will go far deeper. Dario will help us fully establish the Gordon Murray brand, with input and involvement in all future product decisions. We will also be putting his TV presenting skills to good use by producing videos that will enable everyone to follow the development and production of the T.50 and the racing-focused T.50s.” Dario Franchitti said: “As a passionate road car fan, it’s exciting to be involved in the development of the T.50. It is going to be such an incredible car. A supercar designed and engineered with no compromises. It’s also a dream come true to work with and learn from Gordon Murray who is someone I have always had the greatest admiration for, both as an engineer and a friend. I’m looking forward to working closely with Gordon and his brilliant team. I can’t wait to get started and keep the world up-to-date on the T.50. progress with exclusive videos.”
The T.50 was revealed in August and customer deliveries will begin in early 2022. Only 100 will be made and it is engineered to be the most driver-centric supercar ever built, weighing just 986kg. It’s powered by a bespoke Cosworth-developed 3.9-litre V12, the world’s lightest and highest-revving naturally aspirated road car engine.
The recently announced T50s is an even lighter, more powerful race-focused version. Just 25 are being sold and will enter production in 2023.
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Notes to editors
About Gordon Murray Automotive
Gordon Murray Automotive creates the world’s greatest driving cars, engineered and designed without compromise to provide an unrivalled driving experience.
Its first exclusive model is the T.50 supercar which will enter production in early 2022. Limited to 100 examples the T.50 is powered by the world’s highest-revving naturally aspirated V12 road car engine, will weigh just 986kgs, featuring advanced aerodynamics. It redefines on-driving thrill and driver-centric connection.
About Professor Gordon Murray, CBE
Having spent 20 years as Technical Director to two Formula One teams from 1969-1990 Gordon Murray has a wealth of technical, design and engineering experience. At Brabham he was instrumental in two world championship wins (1981 and 1983) before three consecutive championship wins with McLaren Racing (1988, 1989 and 1990). In 1990 – after 50 Grand Prix wins – Gordon moved away from Formula One to concentrate on establishing a new company for the group, McLaren Cars Limited.
His first project there, the F1 road car, is still regarded as one of the world’s best-engineered cars. A racing version won two world sports car championships and the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1995. McLaren Cars then completed several other successful projects culminating in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
Gordon left McLaren in 2005 to set up a Gordon Murray Design Ltd (in 2007), of which he is Chairman. The innovative British company is a world leader in automotive design, and reverses the current industry trend for sub-contracting by having a complete in-house capability for design, prototyping, and development.
In 2017, Gordon Murray Design celebrated the company’s 10-year anniversary along with that of the iStream manufacturing process at a special event, named ‘One Formula’. Gordon also marked the 25th production anniversary of the McLaren F1 road car, and his 50th year of design and engineering.
In May 2019, Professor Murray was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, in recognition of his contributions to the motorsport and automotive sectors over the past 50 years.
About Dario Franchitti, MBE
Scottish born Franchitti is a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, four-time Indycar Champion and the 2008 Daytona 24 hour winner. Dario is currently working as a commentator for the all-electric Formula E championship and a team advisor for Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series. Franchitti has recently enjoyed a return to historic racing. He is married to Eleanor and has two young daughters.
Social media
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Media contact
For further information, images, or comment, email:
T50media@gordonmurrayautomotive.com
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