The McLaren Senna GTR Concept storms its way into the Geneva Motor Show with one very bold claim attached to it: Outside of the British company’s Formula One cars, this $1.4-million-dollar supercar is the fastest way around a racetrack in a car with the McLaren badge on it. This is especially big news from a manufacturer that targets the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, and Bugatti; not to mention that McLaren already has legendary exotic cars like the F1 and P1 on its automotive resume.
Based on the recently introduced Senna road car, the Senna GTR delivers more horsepower, more aerodynamic grip, and even more exclusivity. McLaren has promised that the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 will produce a minimum of 813 horsepower in the Senna GTR, versus the 789 hp found in the road-going variant.
The enormous rear diffuser, towering spoiler, and snow-plow-like front splitter aren’t just there for show, either. The highly sculpted carbon fiber bodywork delivers upward of 2,200 pounds of downforce at speed. Much of the body is fitted with quick-release catches, making it easier to replace fenders and other exterior pieces during the heat of competition. The Senna GTR also rides on a special set of lightweight, 11-spoke alloy wheels.
Combined with a revised double wishbone suspension, Pirelli racing slick tires, and a race-style transmission, the Senna GTR will “post the quickest McLaren circuit lap times outside Formula 1,” according to McLaren’s press release. That headline-grabbing claim probably won’t stand for much longer, however.
It’s an open secret that McLaren is hard at work on road and race versions of the cryptically-named BP23, the firm’s “hyper-GT” that pays homage to the original F1 supercar, produced from 1992-1998.
“The track-only McLaren Senna GTR will have more power, more grip and more downforce – up to 1,000 kilograms – than the McLaren Senna and post even faster lap times,” said Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive CEO. “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.”
Interestingly, about the only thing this race-focused McLaren doesn’t offer is the means to drive it on public roads – this is a track-only speed machine. Then again, if you can afford the roughly $1.4-million price and manage to snag one of the 75 scheduled to be built, commissioning the build of your own private racetrack probably isn’t out of the question.
McLaren will reveal exact technical specifications of the Senna GTR at a later date, though the automaker revealed its taking “expressions of interest” during the Geneva Motor Show. McLaren, consider us interested!
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