McLaren unveils new track-focused race car concept

The covers have been pulled off the dramatic and purposeful McLaren P1 GTR design concept during a private event at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance event in California.

Based on the McLaren P1 road car, the track-focused McLaren P1 GTR design concept further optimises the aerodynamically efficient 'shrink-wrapped' body shape in order to offer maximum performance, superior handling characteristics and optimised driver engagement on track.

Reprofiled low temperature radiator ducts seamlessly flow into the leading edge of the aggressively flared front wheel arches, while the active aerodynamic flaps are retained from the McLaren P1 in the floor ahead of the front wheels.

An additional aerodynamic blade is located behind the wheel arch to clean the air from the front tyres.

The snorkel air intake, inspired by the design of the original McLaren F1, is still present within the roof structure of the carbon fibre MonoCage chassis. The wing mirrors have been repositioned to the A-pillars, to put them closer to the eye line of the driver and reduce aerodynamic drag, while the trailing edge of the door-mounted radiator channels have been extended to draw more air down through the cavity within the door, and into the engine to aid cooling.

At the rear, a large, twin-element wing is mounted on dramatic carbon fibre pylons which extend around the rear of the bodywork.

This fixed height wing is fitted with a hydraulically operated Drag Reduction System (DRS) to boost acceleration performance, and has been honed to provide increased levels of downforce compared to the road car, working with the active aerodynamic flaps located ahead of the front wheels.

Made from inconel and titanium alloy, the system maximises the aural characteristic of the higher output 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine which is now rated at 986bhp.

The design concept unveiled at Pebble Beach wears a livery, which harks back to the original McLaren to wear the GTR badge. During the rigorous testing programme for the F1 GTR, the test car, chassis #01R, originally wore a distinctive orange and silver livery. This colour scheme has been reinterpreted for the model, with the number, 01, signifying the original chassis number. That car eventually went on to take the coveted win at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Launching with the McLaren P1 GTR design concept is the bespoke McLaren P1 GTR  driver programme - the ultra-exclusive ownership programme, which will include specialist driver training, human performance and access to the McLaren racing simulator, and which is designed to prepare each driver mentally and physically to fully exploit the abilities of the McLaren P1 GTR.