McLaren has taken the covers off the ultimate version of its Senna hypercar – the GTR.
Inspired by the concept that was shown at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the British supercar manufacturer has taken its current top-end road car and fitted it with additional aerodynamic elements and suspension derived from the marque’s GT3 racing programme.
By taking no road and race regulations into consideration, McLaren has been able to make the Senna lighter, more powerful and add further downforce – more than 1,000kg, and 200kg more than on the standard Senna.
The GTR is fitted with an uprated version of the 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine found in the road car, and now develops 814bhp – 24bhp more than the road-going model. Paired to a seven-speed ‘seamless-shift’ automatic gearbox, the GTR’s engine also develops 800Nm of torque.
With the loss of weight and increase in power, the Senna GTR has a power-to-weight ratio of 684bhp per tonne – considerably better than any other current McLaren.
Although the road car came with a significant amount of wings, fins and other aero pieces, the GTR only enhances those elements, with new diffusers, additional winglets and a new rear wing that is further back and wider than on the standard car. The GTR also comes with active aero elements for further performance gains, such as the F1-like drag reduction system fitted to the wing.
The GTR is also 10kg lighter than the normal model despite a longer body, wider chassis track and additional track equipment. But most creature comforts have been lost, with the central touchscreen and audio system removed.
In the cabin, McLaren has fitted a full race radio to contact mechanics, FIA-approved harnesses, race-spec dials, two cameras, pit lane speed control and a race-spec steering wheel.
Only 75 GTRs will be built and prices start from £1.1m plus taxes – although all have been sold already.
